Nerite Snail
Neritina natalensis
Family: Neritidae • Origin: Africa
Nerite Snails are the gold standard for algae control. They eat every type of algae, never eat plants, and cannot breed in freshwater.
Min Tank
5 gal
Max Size
1"
Temperature
72-78°F
pH
7-8.5
Lifespan
2 years
School Size
Solo OK
Swim Level
bottom
Hardness
8-20 dGH
peacefulbeginnerherbivore
Care Tips
- • Best algae eater in the hobby
- • Cannot breed in freshwater
- • Needs hard water for shell health
- • May lay white eggs (won't hatch)
- • Will escape without lid
Feeding: Algae only. Best algae-eating snail. Won't eat live plants.
Compatibility Notes: Safe with all peaceful fish. Avoid loaches and puffers that eat snails.
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 5 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 10 gallons
- Swimming Level
- bottom
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 72–78°F
- pH Range
- 7–8.5
- Hardness (dGH)
- 8–20
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- No
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- herbivore
- Growth Rate
- slow
Safe with all peaceful fish. Avoid loaches and puffers that eat snails.
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- egg layer
- Breeding Difficulty
- very difficult
- Lifespan
- 2 years
Ideal For
5 gallonnano tankalgae controlplanted tank
Compatible Tank Mates
View all →
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
70-81°FpH 6-710+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.5"
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
73-84°FpH 5.5-75+ gal
peacefulschooling 8+0.8"
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
73-81°FpH 5.5-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.6"
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
72-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
semi-aggressiveschooling 6+1.75"
Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
70-82°FpH 6-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+3"
Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
75-81°FpH 6-7.530+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+3.5"
