1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Peaceful; can crawl out of tanks.
Sometimes sold as Neritina natalensis, which is the zebra nerite.
332 species in our list are a good match.
Peaceful; can crawl out of tanks.
Algae, biofilm and algae wafers.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Separate sexes, but males and females cannot be told apart externally.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
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 →A nerite with a tan to reddish shell banded in black, prized as an algae grazer that leaves plants alone. It lays small white eggs on hard surfaces, but the larvae need brackish water.
German naturalist Johann Gmelin described this snail in 1791. It became one of the most popular aquarium algae-eaters because of its striped shell and its inability to overrun a tank.
First described by Johann F. Gmelin in 1791.
16 facts checked with sources
Accepted in MolluscaBase (AphiaID 818777), authority (Gmelin, 1791); formerly Neritina turrita. Freshwater/brackish snail. Trade-name flag: some sellers label 'tiger nerite' as Neritina natalensis (Aquatic Arts, Gensou), and Glaser notes the similar V. semiconica ('tractor snail') comes from the same suppliers. Identity of shop 'tiger nerites' is therefore not always V. turrita.
MolluscaBase via WoRMS REST record: Vittina turrita (AphiaID 818777) · Aquarium Glaser (wholesaler, F. Schäfer): Vittina turrita and V. semiconicaLegacy had no family.
MolluscaBase via WoRMS REST record: Vittina turrita (AphiaID 818777) · Wikipedia: Vittina turrita (cites MolluscaBase, IUCN 2016)Shell length (SHL). Common 2.5 cm, max recorded 3.5 cm (FAO guide via SeaLifeBase); legacy 3 cm is within. size-pick: 3.5 cm is a single maximum record, so the 2-3 cm aquarium figure is kept.
Wikipedia: Vittina turrita (cites MolluscaBase, IUCN 2016) · SeaLifeBase: Neritina turrita (= Vittina turrita), Turreted nerite · Gensou Aquascaping (hobby care guide): Tiger nerite snail, 2026Gensou labels its tiger nerite as N. natalensis; the parameters are generic nerite values.
Gensou Aquascaping (hobby care guide): Tiger nerite snail, 2026Legacy 7-8.5 is close; Gensou's 7.0-8.2 used. Aquatic Arts gives 6.5-8.5 (also labelled N. natalensis).
Gensou Aquascaping (hobby care guide): Tiger nerite snail, 2026 · Aquatic Arts (retailer care guide): Tiger Nerite SnailLegacy had none. Aquatic Arts suggests harder water (GH 12-18).
Gensou Aquascaping (hobby care guide): Tiger nerite snail, 2026 · Aquatic Arts (retailer care guide): Tiger Nerite SnailCan be kept singly.
Gensou Aquascaping (hobby care guide): Tiger nerite snail, 2026Single hobby source (which labels the snail N. natalensis); legacy 1-2 years not supported. Low confidence.
Gensou Aquascaping (hobby care guide): Tiger nerite snail, 2026Source is a retailer page that labels the species N. natalensis.
Aquatic Arts (retailer care guide): Tiger Nerite SnailLegacy had no range (business 'producers' list ignored). Aquatic Arts' 'Africa' range belongs to N. natalensis, not V. turrita.
Wikipedia: Vittina turrita (cites MolluscaBase, IUCN 2016) · SeaLifeBase: Neritina turrita (= Vittina turrita), Turreted neriteNeeds brackish water for larvae.
Wikipedia: Vittina turrita (cites MolluscaBase, IUCN 2016) · Aquarium Glaser (wholesaler, F. Schäfer): Vittina turrita and V. semiconicaLegacy text agrees. Behave note 'can crawl out of tanks' is supported for nerites generally (Gensou: 'nerites are notorious climbers').
Wikipedia: Vittina turrita (cites MolluscaBase, IUCN 2016)