Are nerite snails safe with fish and shrimp?

Completely peaceful with everything — the only risk runs the other way. Avoid housing them with large snail-eaters (puffers, most loaches, big cichlids).

Why is my nerite snail not moving?

Nerites rest for hours and sometimes wander above the waterline. Check it hasn't flipped onto its back (they struggle to right themselves — just turn it over), and confirm your water is dechlorinated and the tank has algae or biofilm to graze. A snail that's motionless for days with an open trapdoor and a foul smell has died.

What algae do nerite snails eat, and will they lay eggs?

Nerite snails are the aquarium's best clean-up crew for hard algae — they rasp diatoms, green spot algae, brown algae and biofilm off glass, rock and plant leaves without ever touching healthy plants. They cannot establish a breeding population in freshwater: females dot the tank with small white egg capsules, but the larvae need brackish water to develop, so the eggs never hatch out and overrun the tank the way pest snails do.

Nerite Snail for Sale UK | Tropical Fish Co

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Frequently asked questions

No — that's their superpower. Females may lay small white eggs on hardscape, but the larvae need brackish water to develop, so the population in a freshwater tank never grows. One snail per 20-40 litres is a good algae-control ratio.

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Care guides

Nerite Snail Care Guide: The Best Algae-Eating Snail for UK Aquariums
Complete Nerite Snail care guide — types, tank size, algae-eating ability, water parameters, tank mates. The best aquarium snail that won't breed in freshwater.

Nerite Snail for Sale UK