Variations
1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Black racer nerite snail
Peaceful; lays white eggs on hard surfaces.
- Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Black racer nerite snail only grows to 2.5 cm.
- Oscar eats animals up to about 12 cm. Black racer nerite snail only grows to 2.5 cm.
- Jack Dempsey eats animals up to about 8 cm. Black racer nerite snail only grows to 2.5 cm.
- Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.
- Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.
349 species in our list are a good match.
Care and water
Behavior
Peaceful; lays white eggs on hard surfaces.
Food
Algae and biofilm.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Male or female
Health
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Breeding
Lays eggs in fresh water, but the larvae need brackish or sea water, so it won't multiply in your tank.
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →Where it lives in the wild
The story of the black racer nerite snail
A glossy, all-dark (black to dark brownish-grey) nerite sold as the 'black racer'; it is fast-moving and an excellent algae grazer.
The 'black racer' is a trade name for a dark, striped nerite whose exact species is not settled. It became popular in the 2010s as a fast-moving algae eater.
- Like other nerites, it rarely reproduces in fresh water.
- Its trade name refers to its speed for a snail.
- Nerites close their shell with a hard plate called an operculum.
Sources
14 facts checked with sources
- Scientific name
'Black racer' is a trade name, not a described species, so there is no valid scientific name for it as sold; 'Neritina sp. (black racer)' is a placeholder. Some retailers (The Shrimp Farm, Aquatic Arts) label it Neritina pulligera (Linnaeus, 1767), which is an accepted species in MolluscaBase (AphiaID 207646), but no source confirms the identity of trade stock. Aquatic Arts sells a separate 'midnight black' nerite as Vittina jovis, showing how mixed these labels are. Freshwater/brackish snail.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) · Aquatic Arts (retailer): Black Racer AKA Military Nerite Snails - Familycorrected
Legacy had no family. Family is safe whichever Neritina/Vittina species it is.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Horned nerite snail, Clithon corona & C. diadema (2022) - Size
Shell size. 1 in = 2.5 cm. size-pick: Aquatic Arts claims up to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) without support, so 2.5 cm kept.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) · Aquatic Arts (retailer): Black Racer AKA Military Nerite Snails - Temperature
71.5-82.5 °F = 21.9-28.1 °C.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) - pHcorrected
Legacy upper 8.5 not supported; both sources top out at 8.0.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) · Aquatic Arts (retailer): Black Racer AKA Military Nerite Snails - Hardnesscorrected
Legacy had none. KH 4-8.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) - Smallest tank
5 US gal = 18.9 L, ~ legacy 20 L.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) - Group sizeThe Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022)
- TemperamentThe Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022)
- Care levelThe Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022)
- Where it lives
Range can't be stated for an unidentified trade form. If it is N. pulligera, The Shrimp Farm gives the Indo-Pacific (Australia, SE Asia, Japan, Indian and Pacific Ocean islands, India, SE Africa), in coastal fast-flowing streams.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) - Breeding
Needs brackish water for larvae.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) · Aquatic Arts (retailer): Black Racer AKA Military Nerite Snails - Eggs and youngThe Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022)
- Storycorrected
Legacy described 'a black shell with orange or yellow stripes', which does not match the plain black trade form; striped dark nerites are usually sold under other names.
The Shrimp Farm (hobby care guide): Black racer nerite snail (2022) · Aquatic Arts (retailer): Black Racer AKA Military Nerite Snails