Chinese mystery snail is a species of freshwater aquatic snails known by the scientific name Bellamya chinensis, and is also known as the Japanese mystery snail. As their name implies, they are native to Asia, and are assigned to the Viviparidae family, which means it gives birth to live young. They are a preferred snail for water gardening because they scour the pond eating algae off the liner, planters and even cleaning up your plants without harming them. They have gills for breathing underwater, and a distinct trapdoor (operculum) that they can close tight to provide resistance to drought and predation.