Mystery Vs Nerite For Brown Algae

Hi, so I gave away my Mystery from 20G for a algae-ridden friend and just after 3 days I started having rust looking stuff appear on my gravel and glass. I didn't realize how much cleaning my Mystery did until his absence. I've been told it's brown algae and I wanted to get another snail to take care of it.

What's some pros and cons for Mystery and Nerite, or any other snails that would do the job?

I would prefer that I don't get snail infestation, which was the reason why I had only one Mystery.

Also I have a morph of cherry shrimp that I can add to this tank. Will they be able to clean up the algae?

Thanks ahead for any inputs!

 

Nerite are better algae eaters than mystery snails and they don’t breed in freshwater their only downfall of them are their eggs they won’t hatch in freshwater but remains on decors and it’s hard to scrub it off

 

Nerite are better algae eaters than mystery snails and they don’t breed in freshwater their only downfall of them are their eggs they won’t hatch in freshwater but remains on decors and it’s hard to scrub it off

Are nerites and single Mystery the only snails that won't breed in freshwater? I heard with other snails they can breed even if you keep only one.

How hard is it to scrub those eggs? And how often will they lay those eggs?

 

How hard is it to scrub those eggs? And how often will they lay those eggs?

Often I have to use an old credit card or razor blade to get them off. They do eventually wear away on their own, but that is a painfully long process. Female nerites will lay several eggs a week ime

 

I've found that some nerites have the baby itch more than others (as in, wanting to have babies, and many of them). My one tank would be gorgeous if it wasn't covered in white spots. I joke and say it's been bedazzled but really it looks more like it has some sort of freakish disease. You can scrape it off the glass, thermometer and any tubing for the filters but not off of the driftwood or the plants. I have no hardscape or artificial decor, I would think hot water would get it off of artificial decor but be wary of anything painted. My other tank has just as many nerites but it will only go through phases of egg laying and even then there might only be 20 at a time. Be aware of it, the tank is algae free, it could be that it's filled with plants and a bunch of amano shrimp as well. I had a mystery snail at one point, I didn't find that she did much (her name was Clementine, so she must have been a girl).

 

Mysteries don't do much in regards to algae, you actually need to feed them. Nerites do a better job although because of their size they don't do much. The good thing about Nerites is they don't breed in freshwater so you won't have a problem like you will with mysteries.

 

My nerites made quick work of brown algae, it was gone within a week of getting them. I have 3 nerites and occasionally have eggs here and there, but not many.

 

Often I have to use an old credit card or razor blade to get them off. They do eventually wear away on their own, but that is a painfully long process. Female nerites will lay several eggs a week ime

Oh that's more often then I thought. I was thinking maybe once a month cleaning.

I've found that some nerites have the baby itch more than others (as in, wanting to have babies, and many of them). My one tank would be gorgeous if it wasn't covered in white spots. I joke and say it's been bedazzled but really it looks more like it has some sort of freakish disease. You can scrape it off the glass, thermometer and any tubing for the filters but not off of the driftwood or the plants. I have no hardscape or artificial decor, I would think hot water would get it off of artificial decor but be wary of anything painted. My other tank has just as many nerites but it will only go through phases of egg laying and even then there might only be 20 at a time.

I thought Nerites only lay egg above waterline? Do they not discriminate? The egg issues sounds like something I don't really want to deal with hmm... How are Amano's with algae? And are they hard to keep?

Mine was Gary, though I had strong suspicion that he was a she.

Mysteries don't do much in regards to algae, you actually need to feed them. Nerites do a better job although because of their size they don't do much. The good thing about Nerites is they don't breed in freshwater so you won't have a problem like you will with mysteries.

I have a pretty low stocked tank and I keep my nitrates low. And before with just one Mystery the tank looked pristine. Though I'm not so certain having one Mystery back would solve the problem as I heard once Brown Algae is in, they can feed off silicate even if Nitrates are low

Seems like Eggs vs Algae, which is more problematic.

My nerites made quick work of brown algae, it was gone within a week of getting them. I have 3 nerites and occasionally have eggs here and there, but not many.

How bad was your algae problem when you got the Nerites? Mine is barely noticeable on the glass and covering thinly maybe 10% of substrates.

 

How bad was your algae problem when you got the Nerites? Mine is barely noticeable on the glass and covering thinly maybe 10% of substrates.

Not bad. I had noticeable brown algae on the heater and thermometer, and a little bit on a fake rock, but that's it. They cleaned it up nicely. My substrate is brown gravel so if there was some there, I couldn't tell.

 

I thought Nerites only lay egg above waterline? Do they not discriminate? The egg issues sounds like something I don't really want to deal with hmm... How are Amano's with algae? And are they hard to keep?

Mine was Gary, though I had strong suspicion that he was a she.

They definitely lay below the waterline. The one tank that doesn't get as many eggs, usually has them around the base of a couple of plants. The amanos are good at clean up though they are known to jump and I've heard they climb out of tanks. I've lost a couple in the past when putting them in the tank they decided they wanted freedom and the carpet was a better option than water. Sadly, neither made it even after getting them back in water. Once in the water though they're pretty easy keepers and they have a lot of personality. I've seen the amanos grab hold of the algae wafers and crawl off with them when the other fish and small (cute but useless) cherry shrimp are trying to get to it. If you're not sure about the nerites, I would suggest the amanos before the mystery snails.

 

If eggs are a concern:

Mystery Snails will only lay eyes above the waterline and in one clump. It takes a few weeks to hatch so you have plenty of time to remove it. This is an easy process. Mystery snails DO have a gender so it does take two to tango, however, the eggs are super easy to remove and dry out.

Nerite snails eggs, as you can see above, only hatch in brackish water, however they will still lay them and they can be a pain to remove. They look like little sesame seeds all over the tank. They won't hatch in fresh water, but you can't really remove them.

Regarding algae:

My mystery snails (I have 6) do eat the algae off the walls of the tank. I always see them munching away at the glass. That being said, I don't make a ton of algae so I supplement them with chunks of algae wafer which they (and my molly) absolutely love. I don't have any experiences keeping nerites (yet).