Tiger Eye Nerite Snails (Pack of 5)

Tiger Eye Nerite Snails | Pack of 5

Nerite snails are highly desirable additions to home aquariums. They display a distinct pattern on their small oval shells that resemble a tiger’s eye gemstone. On their heads, they have a pair of tentacles that can extend and retreat when threatened. Nerite snails have small, round mouths lined with a row of tiny teeth that they use to feed on algae, dead plants, or decaying matter. They also have a door-like plate attached to their foot called an operculum that they can use to bar the entry to their shell when they feel unsafe. They are relatively small attaining a size of about 1 inch in diameter.

Nerite Snails Care Guide

Nerite snails do not need any special accommodations and will thrive in varied water conditions. The acceptable water temperature range is between 70 F and 84 F and a pH of 7 and above. They are active species and will crawl through all surfaces in the aquarium in search of algae and other food. They will appreciate aquariums with plants, rocks, driftwood, and other tank decorations on which they graze continuously throughout the day.   

Nerite snails are especially desirable in aquariums because of their ability to graze on all kinds of algae and keep it under control. They are famed algae eaters. They will efficiently remove algae from rocks, driftwood, aquarium glass, and other decorations. Except for some species of fish, there are no better natural ways to fight algae than Nerite snails. In addition to algae, Nerite snails will eat leftover fish food, detritus, biofilm, and other decaying matter.   

Some aquarium hobbyists see snails as undesirable because some types of snails can breed prolifically. But this is not the case with Nerite snails as they require brackish water to reproduce and consequently cannot breed in freshwater aquariums.

Tiger Eye Nerite Snails’ algae-fighting prowess combined with their inability to reproduce in freshwater environments and ease of care makes them very popular in the hobby and highly desirable additions to home aquariums.