Species Profile & Temperament

Nerite or Mystery?

• Nerite Snails graze algae off glass, rocks and decor. In a very clean tank they run out of algae, so they need extra food (see Feeding). They climb, so they need a lid.
• Mystery Snails are omnivores. Unlike nerites, they will eat prepared foods such as algae wafers, blanched vegetables and leftover fish food. They do not generally eat healthy plants. They breathe air at the surface, so they need an air gap under the lid.
• Keeping both? A tank kept between 72°F and 78°F suits both species.

Water & Shell Health

• Temperature: Nerite snails do best at 72–78°F, mystery snails at 68–82°F.
• Calcium is essential. Snails build their shells from it. Mystery snails do best in hard, neutral-to-alkaline water, and soft, acidic water slowly pits nerite shells.
• Watch the shell. A healthy shell is smooth and glossy. Pitting, cracks, or white, worn tips mean a snail needs more calcium.
• Calcium blocks need moving water. Use one in a tank with a filter or air stone, not a bowl.
• Match the temperature of new water. When you top off or change water, the new water must match the tank's temperature. Check it with a thermometer before it goes in. Cold water stresses fish and can kill snails.

Lids & Air Space

• Nerites escape. Keep a lid on the tank. If one goes missing, check the floor, the rim, and the outside of the glass before assuming it died.
• Mystery snails breathe air through a tube called a siphon and need to reach the surface. Never fill a tank right up to the lid. Leave a gap of air below the lid so they can breathe and lay eggs.

Bringing Snails Home (Acclimation)

Before you buy: tell us how long your tank has been set up, and bring a water sample so we can test it with you.

1. Match the temperature first. Float the closed bag in your tank for about 15 to 20 minutes. Never pour the snails straight in.
2. Then go slow. Snails need more time than fish: about an hour of slow drip. Let a small, steady trickle of tank water into the bag or a container holding the snails, never a dump.
3. Leave the bag water out. Move the snails into the tank and pour the bag water down the drain, not into the tank.

Feeding

• Nerite snails live on algae. In a clean tank, add an algae wafer or a blanched vegetable, or they slowly starve. This is a common, easy-to-miss way to lose a nerite.
• Mystery snails eat algae wafers, blanched vegetables and leftover fish food.
• Shrimp foods and calcium blocks work well for both nerite and mystery snails.
• Feed small and take out leftovers. Uneaten food fouls a small tank fast, and overfeeding is the most common reason a tank crashes.

For food types and how much to feed, see our guide What to Feed Freshwater Shrimp, Snails & Crabs.

About the Eggs

• Nerite snails lay small white eggs on hard surfaces like glass, rocks and decor. They will not hatch in freshwater. They are harmless, but they can look permanent.
• Mystery snails lay a pink or white clutch above the waterline. You can remove it if you do not want it. The eggs will not hatch underwater.

Copper & Medicines (CRITICAL)

NO COPPER MEDICINES, EVER: Many ich and parasite medicines contain copper, and copper can kill snails, shrimp and dwarf frogs. Never add these to a tank with snails.

• Water first. Bad water is usually the cause of a sick tank, and a tank with a water-quality problem will not get better with antibiotics. Bring us a water sample before you treat anything.
• Check with us before you add any medicine to a snail tank.

Health Signs & When a Snail Has Died

• Shell damage: Cracks, pitting or white, worn tips point to a calcium problem.
• Warning signs in a mystery snail: floating for a long time with its body hanging loose, or staying closed for days.
• A snail that has died may stay sealed and unmoving for days, or fall with its trapdoor (operculum) open. A dead snail is unmistakable by smell.
• Remove a dead snail right away. It fouls a small tank quickly.

Common Questions (FAQ)

What are the little white dots on my glass?

If you keep nerite snails, those are most likely their eggs. They will not hatch in freshwater and are harmless, though they can be stubborn to remove.

Why is there a pink or white clump above the water?

That is a mystery snail egg clutch. You can remove it if you do not want it. The eggs will not hatch underwater.

My snail is missing. Did it die?

Not necessarily. Nerite snails climb out of tanks. Check the floor, the rim and the outside of the glass, and keep a lid on the tank.

Is my snail dead or just resting?

A dead snail is unmistakable by smell. Snails that stay sealed and unmoving for days, or that fall with the trapdoor open and smell, have died and should be removed right away.

Do snails eat the same food as shrimp?

Yes. Shrimp foods and calcium blocks work well for nerite and mystery snails. Nerites in a clean tank also need an algae wafer or blanched vegetable.

Where can I get help with aquarium snails in Oregon?

Critter Cabana in Newberg (503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (503-665-7606) are our two stores with live aquatics. Call or stop in with your questions, and ask us what we have in today.