Nerite snail

Behaviour and habits

The nerite snail is a peaceful, hard-working algae grazer that roams the tank day and night, cleaning glass, rocks and leaves. It lays small, white, sesame-like eggs on hard surfaces, but these do not hatch in freshwater, so the population stays where it is rather than overrunning the tank. It is an excellent climber too, which is why a tight lid is essential — it will happily wander out of an open tank.

What to feed, and how often

It lives on algae and biofilm and needs little extra food; in a very clean tank, offer a snail food or a blanched vegetable such as courgette now and then, and remove anything uneaten. It is not a fish that should be fed heavily — it grazes constantly and does best with surfaces to work on.

Water changes and maintenance

Change about 25% weekly in hard, alkaline water, which is what keeps its shell healthy. Soft, acidic water slowly erodes the shell, so if your tap water is soft, the snail may not thrive long-term.

Care and how easy it is

Easy and useful; keep the water hard enough for the shell and the lid closed. Avoid soft, acidic setups and, above all, never use copper-based treatments, which are lethal to snails.

Lifespan

With good conditions and steady water quality, this species typically lives around 1–3 years in a home aquarium; some individuals live longer.

Common health problems

Shell erosion in soft, acidic water is the main risk; otherwise hardy.

If it gets sick

Maintain hardness and pH for shell health, provide some algae to graze, and never use copper medications.