Olive Nerite Snail
Neritina reclivata
A tough little algae grazer that thrives where fresh and salt water meet.
About
The olive nerite snail (Neritina reclivata) is a small but hardworking gastropod native to brackish coastal habitats along the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States, where it grazes across hard surfaces in tidal creeks, estuaries, and mangrove edges. Its shell is typically smooth and olive-green to brownish in color, sometimes with faint patterning, and it stays compact enough to work its way into tight spots that larger snails can't reach. In the aquarium, it earns its place as one of the better algae grazers available for brackish setups, methodically cleaning diatoms and green film algae from glass, substrate, and decor without disturbing plants or harassing tankmates. Like other nerites, it won't reproduce in freshwater or standard saltwater aquariums, so you won't deal with a population explosion the way you might with pond snails or ramshorns. That alone makes it a popular choice for keepers who want the cleaning benefits without the pest snail headache. It's a forgiving species for beginners and tolerates a reasonable range of salinity conditions as long as swings are gradual. Give it plenty of hard surfaces to graze, and it will stay busy and healthy in a well-maintained brackish system.
Similar species
Other invertebrate you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Olive Nerite Snail
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does the Olive Nerite Snail need?
- The Olive Nerite Snail does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 7.5–8.5, hardness around 12–30 dGH.
- Is the Olive Nerite Snail aggressive?
- The Olive Nerite Snail is generally peaceful and suits a community tank with similarly calm tankmates.
- What does the Olive Nerite Snail eat?
- The Olive Nerite Snail is a herbivore. It needs a plant-based diet such as algae, blanched vegetables, or spirulina-based foods.