Types of Nerite Snails: Olive, Zebra, Tiger, Horned and Virgin Compared

What every nerite has in common

Nerites belong to the family Neritidae. The ones sold for aquariums share the traits that made them popular: they graze film algae, green spot algae and diatoms on glass, rock, wood and leaves; they leave healthy plants alone; and their eggs do not hatch in fresh water, because the young need brackish or salt water to develop. They all want stable, cycled water around 72 to 80°F, a pH of 7 or higher, and a lid, because they like to climb.

So the choice is mostly about size, looks and what your tank needs.

Olive nerite: the workhorse

The olive nerite is the most common and least expensive nerite. Its shell is smooth and glossy, olive green to dark brown, with fine wavy lines. It is tough, it eats a lot, and it is long lived: a biologist who kept wild olive nerites in his tanks reported some living more than six years, and found that about six adults kept a 20 gallon tank free of algae. If you just want clean glass for the least money, start here.

Horned nerite: small and spiky

Horned nerites are the smallest of the group, about half an inch, with little spikes on the shell. Their size lets them work between plants, in the corners and on the narrow parts of hardscape. They are a natural pick for nano tanks of 3 to 10 gallons and for shrimp tanks, where a big snail would be out of scale. Their spikes can poke soft fingers when you handle them, but they do not hurt fish or shrimp.

Zebra nerite: bold stripes

Zebra nerites have sharp black and gold stripes that run around the shell. They are a little larger than horned nerites and have a big appetite for film algae on glass and rock. They are a popular pick for a 10 to 40 gallon tank where you want the snail to be noticed. Like all nerites, they sometimes try to leave the tank in their first week, so keep the lid on.

Tiger nerite: warm colors

Tiger nerites have an amber or orange shell with dark, jagged marks that look like tiger stripes. They are similar in size and habits to zebra nerites, and they stand out against green plants. Many planted tank keepers choose them for that reason. The pattern varies a lot from snail to snail.

Virgin nerite: one of a kind shells

Virgin nerites (Neritina virginea) are small and come in an amazing range of patterns: black and white lines, red bands, cream swirls and dots. No two look alike, which makes them fun to collect. In the wild they live in coastal waters of the Americas, and in tanks they do well in both fresh and brackish water.

Mixing types in one tank

Nerites of different kinds get along fine together, and a mixed group looks great. A simple plan for a 20 gallon planted tank is 2 olive nerites for heavy grazing plus 2 zebra, tiger or virgin nerites for color. For a 5 gallon shrimp tank, 1 or 2 horned nerites is plenty. Add more only if algae keeps coming back after a few weeks, and feed an algae wafer if the tank gets so clean that the snails run out of food.

Feeding any nerite

Nerites live mostly on the algae and film your tank grows. In a planted tank with good light there is usually enough. In a very clean tank, add an algae wafer or a slice of blanched zucchini once or twice a week, and remove what is left the next day. Calcium in the water, from crushed coral or a cuttlebone, keeps their shells strong.

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