Nerite Snail

• ExerciseLow

  A calm, unhurried swimmer — peaceful surroundings suit them best.

• GroomingEasy tank upkeep

  No grooming here — steady water quality and routine tank care do it.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceGreat first pet

  Forgiving and easy to get started with.

• Commitment1–2 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Skin conditions · Ich (white spot)

Nerite snails (Neritina and Vittina species) come from the coastal, often brackish waters of East Africa and the Indo-Pacific and are kept in freshwater aquariums for their unmatched algae control. They reach about 2.5 cm and live around 1–2 years, sometimes longer. Popular varieties include zebra, tiger, olive and horned nerites, each with distinctive shell patterns. A nerite thrives in a tank of 20 litres or more at 22–28°C, but requires harder, alkaline water with a pH of 7.0–8.5 and adequate calcium to keep its shell healthy. In soft or acidic water the shell erodes and pits. Provide algae-covered surfaces, and note that nerites are escape artists that may crawl above the waterline, so a lid is helpful. They are peaceful grazers that eat algae, biofilm and diatoms off glass, rocks and plants without harming healthy plants, and can be supplemented with algae wafers in a very clean tank. Crucially, they cannot reproduce in freshwater — they lay small white eggs but the larvae need brackish water — so they never overpopulate. Their main issues are shell erosion in soft water and injury from falls or predators, both easily avoided with hard, calcium-rich water and gentle tankmates.

• How active is a Nerite Snail?

  Low. A calm, unhurried swimmer — peaceful surroundings suit them best.

• How much maintenance does a Nerite Snail need?

  Easy tank upkeep. No grooming here — steady water quality and routine tank care do it.

• What tank size does a Nerite Snail need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Nerite Snail a good fit for first-time owners?

  Great first pet. Forgiving and easy to get started with.

• How long do Nerite Snail live?

  1–2 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Nerite Snail?

  Keep an eye out for Skin conditions, Ich (white spot). These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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