Prevent Nerite from Laying Eggs

My nerite (who I fondly call Big Boy) keeps laying eggs. It's cute, because I'm interpreting it to mean that it's really happy like when a male betta makes a bubble nest.

However, it lays them ONLY on the front glass of the display tank, and they'll never hatch because it's the only nerite in the tank. Besides making it unhappy on purpose (because that's not an option) is there a way to prevent it from laying eggs, or should I just get another nerite and become a snail breeder so most future eggs hatch. Thanks!

 

You have a female snail. Nerite eggs won't hatch in fresh water.

 

You have a female snail. Nerite eggs won't hatch in fresh water.

I thought they were hermaphroditic and could fertilize others eggs but not the ones they lay. I learned that last week from a post on here from like 2008 though.......

But yes, I do recall now that they only hatch in brackish water. Can the eggs be removed and moved to a brackish tank, or does removing them destroy them too.

 

I thought they were hermaphroditic and could fertilize others eggs but not the ones they lay. But yes, I do recall now that they only hatch in brackish water. Can the eggs be removed and moved to a brackish tank, or does removing them destroy them too.

I find that a lot of my nerite eggs are stuck pretty good when on the glass, so no way i DON'T damage them removing them. Least thats how it feels.

 

I could always experiment I guess, but not sure it seems worth it.

So back to the original question: is there no way to prevent Queen Big Boy from laying eggs?

 

I could always experiment I guess, but not sure it seems worth it.

So back to the original question: is there no way to prevent Queen Big Boy from laying eggs?

Nope, she is gonna do what she is gonna do. the only way to prevent it is to remove her and try to find a male.

 

For some reason, when I first got my Nerite Snails and they were in their quarantine tank, they didn't lay a single egg. As soon as I added them to the main tank, they started laying eggs like it was their job. Maybe from lack of algae, otherwise I have no clue why. Anything that would stop them from producing eggs would probably also negatively impact their health.
I've found the way to get them off the glass is with a sharp razor blade, the single edged type you get to scrape paint with. It pops them off in a very satisfying manner. I have yet to find how to remove them from driftwood. Mine is permanently speckled.

 

I don't have any cause I don't want to risk getting a female.

 

I am going to be setting up an experiment soon to try to separate nerites by gender. Love the snails, hate the eggs. Going to get 2-3 dozen red racers, let them socialize in a tank together for a few months, then try to set them up in smaller individual habitats with lots of driftwood/plants and see if I can pull out the females once they lay eggs. Preparation for my 180 build. Won't get them all but figure its worth a shot. I believe Olive nerites are the only ones that might be possible to gender based on a little skin fold around the eye.

 

Kind of laughing. Find it funny how many fishkeepers really don't like when nature happens lol

 

Kind of laughing. Find it funny how many fishkeepers really don't like when nature happens lol

Haha, fair enough! But going to be real here, as 'natural' as we try to set up our tanks with plants, and substrate and rocks and wood and biotope themes, they are still about as far away as you get can from real nature. I'm waiting on my guppy civilization to evolve and create birth control, so far they are still pre-stone age.

 

Haha, fair enough! But going to be real here, as 'natural' as we try to set up our tanks with plants, and substrate and rocks and wood and biotope themes, they are still about as far away as you get can from real nature. I'm waiting on my guppy civilization to evolve and create birth control, so far they are still pre-stone age.

I think that is the dream of a lot of livebearer keepers...including me lol

 

You should be happy they are just on the front glass...lol Mine lay on my wood and plants. I have tons of Vals with perfectly spaced little dots going up them.

 

I have cholla wood, so it's very possible she lays them all in there. I don't mind that she lays them. Just wish it wasn't on the part of the tank that you look into.

 

Do the eggs go away / fall off on their own eventually?

 

Do the eggs go away / fall off on their own eventually?

Eventually but there sometimes is white ghost circles left. You either live with them or don't get Nerites....lol