How To Keep Nerite Snails
How to Keep Nerite Snails: The Ultimate Algae-Eating Clean-Up Crew
Nerite snails are one of the best additions to freshwater and brackish aquariums. Known for their algae-eating ability, low maintenance needs, and unique shell patterns, they’re a favorite among aquarists looking to keep their tanks clean and natural. Whether you’re keeping a planted nano tank or a large community setup, Nerite snails offer practical benefits and subtle beauty.
They’re easy to care for, peaceful, and don’t overpopulate like other snail species, making them perfect for beginner and experienced hobbyists alike.
Ideal Tank Setup for Nerite Snails
Nerite snails thrive in a wide range of aquarium types, from small desktop setups to large planted aquascapes. They do best in fully cycled tanks with stable water conditions and plenty of surfaces to graze on.
A secure lid or tight-fitting cover is essential—they are known to escape the tank and explore! If your waterline is high, you may notice them climbing the glass, so leaving a small air gap is wise.
They’re compatible with most peaceful tank mates and do well in community tanks with shrimp, tetras, guppies, corydoras, and more.
Water Parameters
Nerites are hardy but prefer clean, stable water. They do not tolerate ammonia or nitrites and may become inactive or die if exposed to poor water quality. Regular maintenance and water changes are key.
Ideal water parameters:
Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
pH: 7.0–8.2
GH: 6–12
KH: 3–10
TDS: 150–300 ppm
They require hard water to maintain a healthy shell. In soft water, their shells may erode or show pitting. If needed, you can add crushed coral or a remineralizer to raise hardness and buffer pH.
Feeding and Diet
Nerite snails are mostly self-sufficient algae grazers. They feed on diatoms, green spot algae, film algae, and biofilm across glass, hardscape, and plant leaves. In a well-established tank, they may not need supplemental food at all.
In tanks with little algae, you can feed them blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach), algae wafers, or shrimp food. Be cautious not to overfeed—leftover food can foul the water and cause more problems than it solves.
Behavior and Tank Mates
Nerites are peaceful and non-invasive. They don’t bother other tank inhabitants and can be kept solo or in groups. They move slowly but constantly, leaving tidy “graze tracks” across surfaces.
They are safe with shrimp, small community fish, and even bettas, as long as aggression isn’t an issue. Avoid housing them with large, aggressive fish like cichlids or loaches that might nip at or eat them.
Reproduction
Nerite snails won’t overpopulate your aquarium like mystery or ramshorn snails. While they do lay eggs—tiny white dots that harden on rocks, glass, and driftwood—the eggs only hatch in brackish water, not in freshwater.
This makes them perfect for algae control without the risk of a snail explosion. The eggs can be a bit unsightly, but they are harmless and can be scraped off manually if needed.
Types of Nerite Snails
There are many types of Nerite snails available, each with unique shell patterns:
Zebra Nerite – yellow with black striping
Tiger Nerite – deep amber with darker speckles or flames
Olive Nerite – smooth olive-green shell
Horned Nerite – small, with tiny “horns” on their shells
Red Racer Nerite – striking reddish shells with bold markings (more rare)
All have the same care requirements and can be mixed in the same tank.
Final Thoughts
Nerite snails are one of the easiest and most useful invertebrates in the aquarium hobby. With their incredible algae-eating skills, peaceful nature, and low maintenance needs, they’re the perfect cleanup crew for any freshwater tank. Give them stable water, some hard surfaces to graze on, and they’ll do the rest.
