Nerite snails Nerite snails are one of the best algae eating animal you can find for an aquarium. They are also known as Neritina natalensis. The snails we ship are adult size ranging from .5-1.5 inches in diameter, and range in colors and patterns. Please note, as of 11/19/25 our current assortment is mostly pumpkin type nerite snails. These are about half the size of normal nerite snails but are more rare. Please note this prior to purchasing as some customers prefer the larger species. Background and Key Benefits Nerite snails or Neritina natalensis are freshwater snails related to the mollusk family. They are from the East coast of Africa and are found in rivers and streams. These snails come in a variety of colors and patterns including Zebra, Leopard, Helmet, and Olive. Nerite snails are common in the aquarium hobby as they are excellent algae eaters. Due to the variety of these, the type in every pack will vary, and is not guaranteed to look exactly like the photos. Nerite snails are efficient algae eaters They will clean algae from glass, substrate, and décor. Another reason nerite snails are so popular in the aquarium hobby is because they do not reproduce in freshwater. In the wild, these snails return to brackish water to breed and the baby snails require brackish water for early stages of growth. Therefore, Nerite snails will not overpopulate in an aquarium. Along with serving practical purposes in the aquarium, the snails have beautiful shells and they are fun to watch. If you look at your glass closely after adding them, you will see the tiny track marks these snails make as they graze on algae! We keep these snails on pool-filtered sand and in bare-bottom tanks with Matten filters. We also use LED lighting to provide enough natural algae growth for them to feed. Please note: During shipping, snails sometimes go into a hibernation-like state and may not become fully active for up to a week once acclimated to your aquarium. Nerite Snail Tank Parameters pH: 7.2 to 8.5 GH: 7 to 15 KH: 2 to 8 TDS: 120 to 400 Temp: 68 to 78
