Nerite Snail

     December is here, bringing in the holiday season and our new fish of the month, the Nerite snail. Neritidae, more commonly known as Nerites, are a family of snails which range from small-to-medium in size and live primarily in the Southern hemisphere. In addition, these amazing animals can live in freshwater, brackish, or saltwater environments, making them some of the most adaptable mollusks. Many of the most popular Nerite snails for the home aquarium thrive in freshwater, including Zebra Nerites (Neritina natalensis), Tiger Nerites (Neritina natalensis), and Horned Nerites (Clithon corona). Zebra Nerites have a smooth, raindrop-shaped body, with distinctive black and yellow stripes. They’re native to Africa, commonly found in Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa. Tiger Nerites have a teardrop-shaped body, with an orangey shell dotted by black spots, occupying the same range as the Zebra Nerites. Horned Nerites are a bit smaller than the other common types, with a rounder body and shell that has the distinctive spines that give it its name. These snails are native to Southeast Asia, and typically occupy tidal areas in the wild. Freshwater Nerites come in a variety of sizes, with some being only the size of a pea, and others reaching up to 1-1 ½ inches across. Some species of fish, like loaches, can prey on snails, so keep this in mind when deciding if Nerites are right for your tank.  Aside from this, Nerites are tolerant of a variety of conditions, and can live with tankmates ranging anywhere from other snails, tropical fish, to even some species of turtles. Despite the variety of shapes and sizes, all freshwater Nerites are also great algae eaters, so they’re a great choice to help keep almost any variety of aquarium spotless.
     A few things to keep in mind with caring for Nerite snails is that their care can differ than that of your fish, due to their interesting nature as gastropods.  For one, they require additional calcium to help promote healthy shell growth, so it stays smooth and strong, and if they eat all of the algae in your tank, they will sometimes need extra food. Another issue is that some common aquarium medications can negatively harm your snails if they contain copper or other chemicals, as some fish-safe ingredients can be toxic to invertebrates. Here at Centreville Aquarium, we carry solutions for both of these issues. A good way to provide additional nutrition to your snails is occasionally supplementing their diet with a high-quality sinking pellet, which can contain more calcium than plain algae, and algae wafers are also a great way to keep a snail from going hungry once they’ve done their job of cleaning your tank. We carry Hikari Crab Cuisine, which is a pelleted diet containing a rich source of calcium. Not just a diet for crustaceans, Crab Cuisine is an excellent choice to promote the shell health of Nerite snails. 

Hikari Algae Wafers are a great addition to the diet of your Nerite snails; rich in vegetables, it is a nutritious food your snails will love. If you need to medicate your fish, but are concerned about possibly hurting your snails, API Melafix, an antibacterial medication, and API Pimafix, an antifungal medication, are perfectly safe for your snails, and can even help them overcome their own illnesses.  Aside from these concerns, Nerite snails are less delicate than many of the most popular aquarium fish. Freshwater Nerites are a great choice for any beginner, due to their hardiness, low maintenance requirements, and ease of care. In fact, Nerites are actually one of the best choices for someone interested in setting up something as simple as a bowl.