Nerite Snail Beginner Questions

Hey fishkeepers!

I am going to my lfs tomorrow and am interested in getting a nerite snail. I only want nerite since my store has only them and mysteries and I don't want to be overpopulated with a snail colony. Also I see some healthy ones there too. So, here's some questions.

1. What are snails sensitive to? Ammonia? Nitrite?
2. What particular conditions does a nerite need?
3. Any special food besides algae? I know they need calcium to grow their shell but how do I give it to them?
4. How long do horned nerites live? (That's the type)
5. Do they provide a lot of waste or not much?
6. Do they like tall plants and that type thing? Or don't really care about cover since they are on the tank side anyway?
7. Any other facts from snail keepers?

Another fact I know is that you want to make sure you get a snail on the tank side moving with no shell defects. And, make sure when you put it in the tank it goes onto the side of the glass and doesn't fall on the substrate on its shell

Thanks so much!

 

1. Yes, just like fish
2. They're not too picky.
3. They should get enough calcium from the water
4 I don't know
5 Barely any
6 They don't care too much
7. They can't breed in freshwater so you can get more than one

 

1) As with fish, snails are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, along with high nitrate levels.
2) Nerites aren't too picky in terms of conditions. I have them in an array of temps and pH levels and they are fine.
3) I feed mine zucchinI slices, but you can also add in calcium pills the same as you would for shrimp.
4) Roughly 1 year, give or take.
5) Very little waste and a low bioload.
6) They don't care too much, although they weigh enough that broader leaved plants support them just fine but they are too heavy for narrow plants (vals for example)
7) Not that I can think of at the moment. They don't breed in Freshwater so you don't need to worry about an overpopulation. Avoid loaches and other fish that would eat them.

One other note. When snails die they give off a LOT of ammonia pretty quickly as they decompose, so just be aware of that and be sure to watch out for dead snails, or check your parameters frequently (every other day, or daily if you want). A sudden ammonia spike on an otherwise cycled and well established tank is a good indicator that you may need to go looking for a dead snail.

 

So, would you say no to a snail in a not yet cycled tank? Ammonia is 1ppm right now. Try to respond asap because I am leaving the house in 30-45 mins so I will be there in a little more than a hour.

 

If your water is alkaline enough then you don't really need to supplement calcium. I live in South Florida so the water here is pretty hard (because of limestone and such).

 

So, would you say no to a snail in a not yet cycled tank? Ammonia is 1ppm right now. Try to respond asap because I am leaving the house in 30-45 mins so I will be there in a little more than a hour.

I would wait.

 

Okay, thanks. I was thinking that too. I am guessing it's about 2-3 months before this tank finishes cycling. I'll still go to the lfs to see what snails they have but I will wait to buy.

Thanks so much!

 

Okay, thanks. I was thinking that too. I am guessing it's about 2-3 months before this tank finishes cycling. I'll still go to the lfs to see what snails they have but I will wait to buy.

Thanks so much!

Yes, definitely wait. If you did get a snail (or more) and it died while your tank was in the process of cycling it would cause a huge ammonia spike and could disrupt your whole cycle.