Shrimp & snails · Neritina

Nerite snail

Neritina natalensis · East African coastal rivers and estuaries

Photo: Evan Baldonado, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Nerite snail (Neritina natalensis) is a freshwater fish from East African coastal rivers and estuaries, where it lives in brackish estuary habitat. Adults reach about 2.5 cm (1 in). Keep it at 22–28 °C (72–82 °F) and pH 7–8.5, with a gentle current. It is peaceful.

At a glance

Water temperature

22–28 °C 72–82 °F

7–8.5 hard, alkaline water

Adult size

2.5 cm 1 in

Swims

Bottom mostly on the floor and in caves

Keep together

Fine alone

Current

Gentle a steady gentle flow

Food

Grazer

Temperament

Peaceful

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Nerite snail

≈

Shrimp & snails · NeritinaStaple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Nerite snail

Neritina natalensis

East African coastal rivers and estuaries · brackish estuary

Temperature: 22–28°C
pH: 7–8.5
Adult size: 1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow: Gentle
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Grazer
Group: 1+
Typical price: $3–6
Rarity: Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

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Photo: Evan Baldonado, CC BY 4.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Photo Evan Baldonado, CC BY 4.0 Wikimedia Commons
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Not checked yet: temperature, pH, adult size, water flow, habitat, group size, temperament, diet, behaviour, price, home range. These are our own estimates from typical hobby ranges. We haven't checked them against a published source yet.

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with moderate flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Will eat the nerite snail

Acei Angelfish Blood parrot Blue acara Calvus
Need a different pH and will eat the nerite snail

Altum angelfish
Aggressive and will eat the nerite snail

Auratus Convict cichlid

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Nerite snail get?

About 2.5 cm (1 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Nerite snail need?

22–28 °C (72–82 °F).

What pH does a Nerite snail need?

pH 7–8.5.

Does a Nerite snail need to be kept in a group?

No. It can be kept on its own.

Is the Nerite snail aggressive?

No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.

Where does the Nerite snail come from?

East African coastal rivers and estuaries.

What fish can live with a Nerite snail?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Agassiz's dwarf cichlid, Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	22	Estimate
Temperature max (°C)	28	Estimate
pH min	7	Estimate
pH max	8.5	Estimate
Adult size (cm)	2.5	Estimate
Flow	Moderate	Estimate
Habitat	brackish	Estimate
Smallest happy group	1	Estimate
Temperament	Peaceful	Estimate
Diet	Grazer	Estimate
Behaviour tags	invertebrate	Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)	3	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	6	Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.