Red Spotted Nerite Snail

About

The red spotted nerite snail (Clithon diadema) is one of the more visually interesting nerites you can keep in a freshwater tank. The shell is typically dark, banded with fine lines and marked with bright red or orange spots that vary noticeably from snail to snail, so no two look exactly alike. Like other nerites, this species originates from brackish and freshwater environments in the Indo-Pacific region, where it grazes constantly on biofilm and algae coating rocks and submerged surfaces. That grazing behavior is exactly what makes it so useful in the aquarium. It will work its way methodically across the glass, hardscape, and plant leaves, clearing soft green algae and diatoms without bothering your plants or tankmates. Red spotted nerites are peaceful by nature and get along fine with community fish, shrimp, and other snails. One well-known quirk shared by the whole nerite group applies here too: they will lay small white eggs on hard surfaces throughout the tank, and those eggs won't hatch in purely freshwater conditions, so you won't end up with a snail population explosion. Overall this is a forgiving, low-maintenance snail that suits newer keepers well.