Food a Zebra Nerite will eat

I feel at a loss with my zebra nerite Squishy. I have tried to feed blanched cucumbers several times and this snail has no interest in it whatsoever, which is so weird because I know nerites LOVE their cucumbers. I am attempting right now to feed my snail blanched lettuce, and we will see how it goes. is there any other veggie or food options I can try with my snail? my tank has started to get green dust algae and so I know they won't starve, but I am trying to feed the veggies since they need it for their shell and parts of their shell is broken and I know its important to feed them calcium. I also have been using Seachem Neutral Regulator to boost my pH up and it adds calcium to my water each time I use it, so I'm trying to make sure the water has enough calcium and my nerite is getting enough to eat. Squishy is my first nerite and so far seems picky lol so I figured I'd ask! thank you in advance

 

I feel at a loss with my zebra nerite Squishy. I have tried to feed blanched cucumbers several times and this snail has no interest in it whatsoever, which is so weird because I know nerites LOVE their cucumbers. I am attempting right now to feed my snail blanched lettuce, and we will see how it goes. is there any other veggie or food options I can try with my snail? my tank has started to get green dust algae and so I know they won't starve, but I am trying to feed the veggies since they need it for their shell and parts of their shell is broken and I know its important to feed them calcium. I also have been using Seachem Neutral Regulator to boost my pH up and it adds calcium to my water each time I use it, so I'm trying to make sure the water has enough calcium and my nerite is getting enough to eat. Squishy is my first nerite and so far seems picky lol so I figured I'd ask! thank you in advance

I would try zucchini. I used it multiple times and my nerite goes INSANE for it. He literally did not get off of it for 12 hours straight. You could also add crushed coral or a cuttlebone to boost the calcium.

 

I would try zucchini. I used it multiple times and my nerite goes INSANE for it. He literally did not get off of it for 12 hours straight. You could also add crushed coral or a cuttlebone to boost the calcium.

Maybe I should give zucchini a go next! I just didn't expect my snail to be so picky, but I know they have likes and dislikes just like we do! I just have been trying calcium based foods since they have missing pieces of their shell and I know it helps regenerate it! I was thinking about adding cuttlebone as you suggested but I was unsure if it would raise the calcium too high when mixed with the calcium added from the Neutral Regulator. I think it is amazing your snail loved the zucchini so much it didn't want to get off your snail was just grubbing away and being a happy snail! I love it! Thank you so much for your suggestion!

 

Maybe I should give zucchini a go next! I just didn't expect my snail to be so picky, but I know they have likes and dislikes just like we do! I just have been trying calcium based foods since they have missing pieces of their shell and I know it helps regenerate it! I was thinking about adding cuttlebone as you suggested but I was unsure if it would raise the calcium too high when mixed with the calcium added from the Neutral Regulator. I think it is amazing your snail loved the zucchini so much it didn't want to get off your snail was just grubbing away and being a happy snail! I love it! Thank you so much for your suggestion!

Your welcome. You could add the cuttlebone and test gh and kh and if it gets too high then you could remove it.

 

Your welcome. You could add the cuttlebone and test gh and kh and if it gets too high then you could remove it.

That is also very true ! I think as of right now my KH is 80 ppm and GH is 30 ppm, I have to retest soon since these readings were on the 8th. My water is RO water and was at 0 for both KH and GH without the regulator so it's an improvement but still have to go up! i will have to look into it! So far, my snail is having no luck with the lettuce and moved away from it lol but I will come back to it tomorrow and see if maybe it nibbled on it, so it seems we might have to go the zucchini route

 

That is also very true ! I think as of right now my KH is 80 ppm and GH is 30 ppm, I have to retest soon since these readings were on the 8th. My water is RO water and was at 0 for both KH and GH without the regulator so it's an improvement but still have to go up! i will have to look into it! So far, my snail is having no luck with the lettuce and moved away from it lol but I will come back to it tomorrow and see if maybe it nibbled on it, so it seems we might have to go the zucchini route

Yes. Zucchini! KH is pushing the low end, but the should be boosted. Sorry if that came off as rude. IDK a better way to say it.

 

My nerites are picky little buggers too! They wouldn’t eat cucumbers, zucchini, or corgette. They are gaga for green leaf and red leaf lettuce though and will munch Romaine. Just keep trying things to see what they like. I find mine prefer to eat in the evening when the fishies are going night night too.

 

My nerites like zucchini, spinach, kale, snello, and fresh green beans. I also have a wonder shell in my tank for calcium for them

 

I think that’s the first I’ve heard about green beans. How do you prepare them? Also, can you share your snello recipe, please?

 

One of my picky Nerite's loves snello - the other turns his nose up at anything but algae. I let the algae go just enough to provide food for them. I also supplement with the snello - which my Mystery Snails love & one of my Nerite's loves. If no one else posts a recipe, I'll come back on my lunch & post mine.

 

Snello:
4oz. jar of green bean baby food
1 1/2 packet Knox gelatin, plain (generic is fine)
10 Berry Flavored Tums
Shrimp Pellets
Fish Flakes

Crush Tums, fish flakes & shrimp pellets into a powder using a mortar & pestle or pill crusher.
Heat baby food on stove till bubbling.
Once heated, stir in gelatin. Stir very well using spoon.
Stir in Tums powder mix & stir until well blended.
Spoon mixture into ice cube tray or flat bottomed container. Put tray in freezer.
Let set - about a couple hours. Remove cubes & store in ziploc bag.
I'd remove it after about 30 minutes or so, it can cloud the water if left in too long. It's hard to remove, so a feeding dish is best used with this.
Hope your snail enjoys it!

 

Thanks! I’m definitely going to try this! Just to clarify; you do mean freeze the snello, not just refrigerate to solidify like regular jello? Do you store in freezer all of the time then and just let them melt in the tank?

 

Thanks! I’m definitely going to try this! Just to clarify; you do mean freeze the snello, not just refrigerate to solidify like regular jello? Do you store in freezer all of the time then and just let them melt in the tank?

I keep mine frozen & cut it into smaller bits while still frozen & put it in a dish in the tank. You can keep it frozen for a couple months.

 

Yes. Zucchini! KH is pushing the low end, but the should be boosted. Sorry if that came off as rude. IDK a better way to say it.

I am going to get zucchini and give it a go tomorrow! I'm trying my hand at lettuce again since I just got a new mystery snail to help my nerite clean the algae up! You didn't come off as rude at all! I am on a budget and can't get cuttlebone so i researched and cleaned some eggshells and put them in a media bag in my filter compartment of my tank to hopefully help raise the calcium for my snails! Hopefully that will be enough to raise it so my nerite can regenerate its shell the mystery i just bought has new shell growth already, from a previous crack I think on the rim, so I'm hoping the eggshells help them both. Thank you so much again for all your help!