Mystery and Nerite snails.

[Doyle145]

Hi everyone, I have recently purchased a mystery snail and two nerite snails for my 64 liter tank with 5 female bettas. Immediately all bettas showed signs of aggression, they were all constantly nipping at my mystery snails antennas and knocking the Nerite snails off the glass. I was aware that there was a chance the bettas wouldn’t be too friendly so I had prepared a 24 liter tank to transfer them to. Unfortunately I had to move them because I was afraid they would get seriously injured or possibly die.
I was just wondering if anybody with knowledge of snails could give me some tips on keeping them like if 24 liters is to small, what would the optimum temperature be in the tank for both the mystery snail and the Nerite snails, if it is okay to keep them all together alone and what ornaments or plants I should add to suit them best. I have also tried researching a bit myself and some websites recommend a filter and others recommend no filter so I’m not too sure what to do.
Thanks you.

 

[Koglin]

Hi everyone, I have recently purchased a mystery snail and two nerite snails for my 64 liter tank with 5 female bettas. Immediately all bettas showed signs of aggression, they were all constantly nipping at my mystery snails antennas and knocking the Nerite snails off the glass. I was aware that there was a chance the bettas wouldn’t be too friendly so I had prepared a 24 liter tank to transfer them to. Unfortunately I had to move them because I was afraid they would get seriously injured or possibly die.
I was just wondering if anybody with knowledge of snails could give me some tips on keeping them like if 24 liters is to small, what would the optimum temperature be in the tank for both the mystery snail and the Nerite snails, if it is okay to keep them all together alone and what ornaments or plants I should add to suit them best. I have also tried researching a bit myself and some websites recommend a filter and others recommend no filter so I’m not too sure what to do.
Thanks you.

Hi Doyle, I can't speak much for mystery snails, but I know nerites a bit.

Typically they'll prefer harder water (though I've seen them kept in neutral ph too, not sure how this affects in the long run though) and it's not a bad idea to add in a calcium supplement for them. I recommend getting some aquarium safe cuttle bone, it's pretty cheap and widely available, this will help keep some calcium in the environment so their shell doesn't deteriorate. Nerites also like water around the mid 70°s F range.

With 2 of them, you may see eggs at random times but any fry won't survive if it's not in brackish water, so you don't gotta worry about them reproducing in freshwater really. If they lay eggs and you want them, you can transfer them to a grow out tank with appropriate water conditions of it is already cycled.

They eat algae, so if there isn't enough present in the tank, might have to supplement food for them.

I dunno about other ppl but I brush my nerite off with a soft bristle toothbrush every now and again (he'll get sand stuck on his shell). One time he got some green hair algae I brushed off him too, cracked me up. He looked like he had short troll hair.

This article should help with the nerites if ya get a minute:

Nerite Snails: The Definitive Care Guide

Nerite snails are one of the best options when trying to keep your tank clean, whether it’s freshwater or saltwater. They spend most of their time moving around the tank, consuming any algae in their

www.fishkeepingworld.com

.

 

[Doyle145]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your response also thank you for the article much appreciated.

 

[Koglin]

Np'

Also, sometimes at the tip of their shell you may see a white spot, from everything I have been able to find i think it's just where the shell is growing. If not, someone may elaborate more but mine never seemed to have a prob. with it and he's gotten much bigger since I got him.

 

[Essjay]

I know it's completely off topic, but did you know that whoever sold you the mystery snail was breaking the law? It is illegal to import and distribute all Pomacea snails within the EU. So if you decide not to keep the snail, be careful!

 

[Doyle145]

I know it's completely off topic, but did you know that whoever sold you the mystery snail was breaking the law? It is illegal to import and distribute all Pomacea snails within the EU. So if you decide not to keep the snail, be careful!

Wow that’s Interesting, I was completely unaware that that was illegal, I’m based in ireland And I bought them from a home breeder thank you for informing me.

 

[kwi]

Yup, not even allowed to breed them for yourself..........

 

[RenC]

Hi Doyle, I can't speak much for mystery snails, but I know nerites a bit.

Typically they'll prefer harder water (though I've seen them kept in neutral ph too, not sure how this affects in the long run though) and it's not a bad idea to add in a calcium supplement for them. I recommend getting some aquarium safe cuttle bone, it's pretty cheap and widely available, this will help keep some calcium in the environment so their shell doesn't deteriorate. Nerites also like water around the mid 70°s F range.

With 2 of them, you may see eggs at random times but any fry won't survive if it's not in brackish water, so you don't gotta worry about them reproducing in freshwater really. If they lay eggs and you want them, you can transfer them to a grow out tank with appropriate water conditions of it is already cycled.

They eat algae, so if there isn't enough present in the tank, might have to supplement food for them.

I dunno about other ppl but I brush my nerite off with a soft bristle toothbrush every now and again (he'll get sand stuck on his shell). One time he got some green hair algae I brushed off him too, cracked me up. He looked like he had short troll hair.

This article should help with the nerites if ya get a minute:

Nerite Snails: The Definitive Care Guide

Nerite snails are one of the best options when trying to keep your tank clean, whether it’s freshwater or saltwater. They spend most of their time moving around the tank, consuming any algae in their

www.fishkeepingworld.com

.

Beware though! I don’t have brackish water and somehow my snail eggs hatched and now I have lots of the little dudes

 

[eatyourpeas]

I have had a Nerite share a 6 gal. tank with two Mystery snails for 8 months now. They are all very peaceful, will not eat the plants, but I would recommend a filter with a tank that size. They are big poopy heads. @Koglin pretty much covered everything else... I opted for Amano shrimp to brush their shells for me

 

[Koglin]

Beware though! I don’t have brackish water and somehow my snail eggs hatched and now I have lots of the little dudes

Oh jeez, lol sorry to hear - 4th time I've heard that though. Not really sure exactly why it happens sometimes.

You might be able to put a leaf of blanched lettuce or spinach in your tank and let some gather on it then pull it out (if you need to reduce population quickly). I've seen little snail trap cages too but haven't tried them before, not sure how well they work. I wouldn't suggest an assassin snails if you do need to reduce, they'll eat like 3-4 every couple days and can fully decimate a small stable population if they aren't actively repopulating.

Any chance you know what type of nerites you have?? Wonder if therein lies the difference? Not sure.

Crazy, definitely can happen though.

 

[Koglin]

I know it's completely off topic, but did you know that whoever sold you the mystery snail was breaking the law? It is illegal to import and distribute all Pomacea snails within the EU. So if you decide not to keep the snail, be careful!

Oh crazy. Do you know why by chance? Maybe it's considered invasive.. interesting either way.

 

[RenC]

Oh jeez, lol sorry to hear - 4th time I've heard that though. Not really sure exactly why it happens sometimes.

You might be able to put a leaf of blanched lettuce or spinach in your tank and let some gather on it then pull it out (if you need to reduce population quickly). I've seen little snail trap cages too but haven't tried them before, not sure how well they work. I wouldn't suggest an assassin snails if you do need to reduce, they'll eat like 3-4 every couple days and can fully decimate a small stable population if they aren't actively repopulating.

Any chance you know what type of nerites you have?? Wonder if therein lies the difference? Not sure.

Crazy, definitely can happen though.

I’ve been managing to slowly get rid of them when I vacuum my substrate! But thank you for the idea I’ll definitely use it if I see anymore! And I actually have no clue what specific type they are

 

[kwi]

Oh crazy. Do you know why by chance? Maybe it's considered invasive.. interesting either way.

Yup, invasive species and some have been found in a river in Spain, been banned since 2012.

 

[Essjay]

Because laws apply throughout the entire EU, Pomacea snails are banned even in countries where they can't survive the winter.

 

[Essjay]

I know there are a lot of different nerite species and they don't all breed the same way - @RenC which species of nerites do you have?