Zebra nerite snail

Neritina natalensis

Family : Neritidae

InvertebrateFreshwatersnail

Very decorative freshwater snail with black and yellow stripes, excellent algae cleaner.

Zebra nerite snail — photo 1 sur 4
Gogoschinski · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain1 / 4
Popularity
Freshwater snail
algivore or detritivore
Availability
Common in shops
Shop availability
IUCN Status
LC
Least Concern
Biotope
East Africa+1
Grands lacs africains (hors Malawi/Tanganyika), Madagascar.

Description

Neritina natalensis is a medium-sized snail (2-3 cm) with a globular shell adorned with black and yellow bands. It is very active and spends its time grazing algae on glass, rocks, and plants. It does not reproduce in freshwater (larvae need brackish water). It is peaceful and compatible with most fish and shrimp.

Habitat

Region :

The zebra nerite snail lives in estuaries and coastal rivers of East Africa, on rocky or sandy substrates. It tolerates brackish water and moves on rocks and plants in search of algae.

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature2228 °C
pH78
GH515 °dGH
KH38 °dKH
NO₃
≤ 20 mg/L
PO₄
≤ 0.5 mg/L

Care

Difficulty
1/5
Diet
Herbivore
Min. tank
20 L
Min. group
1
Adult size
3 cm
Lifespan
3 years
Temperament
Peaceful
Propagation
Ovipare ; pond des œufs durs sur les surfaces, mais les larves nécessitent de l'eau saumâtre pour se développer.

Care notes

Easy to keep: temperature 22-28°C, pH 7.0-8.0, GH 5-15. A mature tank with algae is ideal. Feed with algae, blanched vegetables, and calcium supplements. It may starve if the tank is too clean. Avoid snail-eating fish. Do not expose to copper-containing medications.

Similar species

Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance

References