Nerites for 10 gallon

[JemZ]

I'm interested in picking up some more nerites, already have two zebras. One is in a 10 gallon by itself (no fish, only bladder snails with it) so I wanted to get some more. Would two more, I was thinking a horned nerite and a red onion, work in this tank?

Parameters:

pH: 8.2

Ammonia: 0 ppm

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 10 ppm

 

[jonny-5]

Maybe 2 Nerites in a 10Gallon at a push. They simply will not be enough food for any more than that.
I know you can supplement them but to me that defeats the object of having them

 

[jonny-5]

My 2 Zebras in the 30 Gallon

 

[Circus]

It depends on what you have in the tank. I had my 10 gallon filled with leaves and driftwood, and they will eat the biofilm off of that. I had 3 nerites in there, but eventually moved one out. You also have other snails in there, which is a consideration on natural food supply. 2 is a good number for a 10 gallon.

 

[Akeath]

Three would do fine in the 10 gallon, but you'd need to provide supplemental foods like sinking algae wafers, blanched veggies, or algae rocks because there wouldn't be enough naturally occurring algae to go around. Make sure that your calcium supplement (such as a piece of unflavored cuttlebone) is large enough for multiple snails to rasp on at once if they want to.

I have a 10 gallon with a Red Onion and a Zebra Nerite. I didn't expect them to socialize much, but they are almost constantly together. I once tried keeping them with Mystery Snails and they ignored those completely, but they certainly do seem to appreciate the company of other Nerites.

 

[JemZ]

Alright everyone I will keep all of this in mind, and probably start with one additional snail and see how it goes

Also will add some live plants to encourage algae growth!

 

[Ch4rlie]

Also will add some live plants to encourage algae growth!

Live plants won’t encourage algae growth, in fact plants actually fight algae for the same nutrients in the water column so having healthy live plants help the fight against algae.

I would perhaps suggest either having lights on a little longer, this is depending how long you already have lights on for daily.

Or growing your own algae, a shallow dish with some water with some glass or flat stones in the dish with direct sunlight may help grow the right type of algae for the nerites to munch on. Simply add flat stone or glass with algae to the tank near any nerites and hopefully they will find it and have a happy snack.

 

[JemZ]

Live plants won’t encourage algae growth, in fact plants actually fight algae for the same nutrients in the water column so having healthy live plants help the fight against algae.

I would perhaps suggest either having lights on a little longer, this is depending how long you already have lights on for daily.

Or growing your own algae, a shallow dish with some water with some glass or flat stones in the dish with direct sunlight may help grow the right type of algae for the nerites to munch on. Simply add flat stone or glass with algae to the tank near any nerites and hopefully they will find it and have a happy snack.

White light is on 8:30 - 8
Blue light is on 8:30 to 10

I know just the spot, a windowsill on the bedroom opposite mine

Planning on supplementing regularly with cucumber and algae wafers, I still am looking for some cuttlebone.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Won’t recommend extending light time anymore otherwise you may get real algae issues.

Adding live plants is a good idea anyhow as this a natural benefit for the tank AND the livestock. Always recommend live plant, get some easy to care for ones like vallisernia, Java ferns and anubias to name a few.

The addition of algae wafers and plain cuttlefish are good suggestions. Snails like most veggies as well.

A few options really, trail and error in finding out what kind of supplements your nerites really like to munch on.

 

[JemZ]

Won’t recommend extending light time anymore otherwise you may get real algae issues.

Adding live plants is a good idea anyhow as this a natural benefit for the tank AND the livestock. Always recommend live plant, get some easy to care for ones like vallisernia, Java ferns and anubias to name a few.

The addition of algae wafers and plain cuttlefish are good suggestions. Snails like most veggies as well.

A few options really, trail and error in finding out what kind of supplements your nerites really like to munch on.

I've wanted to get some live plants for a while but my mother will be very angry if I somehow introduce MTS, she has a snail phobia caused by her irrational hatred for pond snails. The only reason she is letting me get some nerites is that I promised to carefully examine the new snails just to be sure they don't have MTS on them (which I highly doubt they will.)

Can I buy the cuttlebone sold for birds? I cannot find anything online branded as being for fish.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I've wanted to get some live plants for a while but my mother will be very angry if I somehow introduce MTS, she has a snail phobia caused by her irrational hatred for pond snails. The only reason she is letting me get some nerites is that I promised to carefully examine the new snails just to be sure they don't have MTS on them (which I highly doubt they will.)

Can I buy the cuttlebone sold for birds? I cannot find anything online branded as being for fish.

Cuttlebone sold for birds is fine to use in aquariums; I always boil mine for 5 or ten minutes before adding to my tanks.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yes, any plain cuttlefish is fine for snails.

There are some various ways of ensuing you don’t get any pond snails, online aquatic plant sale websites like Tropica for example who do grow plants from tissue culture and the plants are grown in specialist pots is pretty good for ensuring there are no snails or algae on the plants.

Also you could do a gentle bleach dip on the plants and that helps kills any snails or eggs on the plant, so be wary this can kill plants too if not careful.

 

[JemZ]

There are some various ways of ensuing you don’t get any pond snails, online aquatic plant sale websites like Tropica for example who do grow plants from tissue culture and the plants are grown in specialist pots is pretty good for ensuring there are no snails or algae on the plants.

Also you could do a gentle bleach dip on the plants and that helps kills any snails or eggs on the plant, so be wary this can kill plants too if not careful.

Can the snails hitchhike on floating plants (such as water sprite)? Would be more inclined to get them rather than plants for on the ground.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Can the snails hitchhike on floating plants (such as water sprite)? Would be more inclined to get them rather than plants for on the ground.

Snails can hitchhike on any live plants.

Like I say, some online aquarium plant website do sell plants sold as tissue culture or grown in sterile areas where snails won’t get to the plants and these retailers sell the plants in contained pots.

Pretty reliable and I’ve bought plants in this way in the past, costs a little more but worth it for peace of mind imho.

 

[JemZ]

Snails can hitchhike on any live plants.

Like I say, some online aquarium plant website do sell plants sold as tissue culture or grown in sterile areas where snails won’t get to the plants and these retailers sell the plants in contained pots.

Pretty reliable and I’ve bought plants in this way in the past, costs a little more but worth it for peace of mind imho.

Alright I will head to the shops today and work on live plants over the weekend

Thanks for the help everyone