Freshwater Nerite in reef

AlexxF18 · Mar 3, 2024

Good morning all. Not sure if anybody else has attempted this. Long story short, heard nerites will eat cyano, i happened to have a spare nerite in an empty freshwater tank, also heard some nerites can live in both waters. So after a few days of off and on drip acclimating in a bucket. This is day 7 of his venture in the reef tank and hes still kickin butt. Curious if anybody else has done this sort of little experiment

Ron Reefman · Mar 5, 2024

I have not. But I have put saltwater nerites that I collect when I snorkel in the Keys into my tanks. I have an issue with them wanting to climb to the top of the tank. On my rimless tank, they even climb out of the tank. Fortunately, they can 'close up' their operculum and survive 12 to 24 hours out of the water!

legionofdoon · Mar 5, 2024

Mine usually crawl back in.

Lobophyton · Mar 30, 2024

Exactly the topic i was looking for, do they eat algae on rocks ?

BigMonkeyBrain · Mar 30, 2024

AlexxF18 said:
Good morning all. Not sure if anybody else has attempted this. Long story short, heard nerites will eat cyano, i happened to have a spare nerite in an empty freshwater tank, also heard some nerites can live in both waters. So after a few days of off and on drip acclimating in a bucket. This is day 7 of his venture in the reef tank and hes still kickin butt. Curious if anybody else has done this sort of little experiment

I have always heard Nerite snails are brackish and salt water snails sold as fresh water snails.

twentyleagues · Mar 30, 2024

I know they can traverse between salt, brackish and fresh. Typically only have viable eggs in brackish water but will lay eggs in fresh or salt also. As long as it was acclimated I think it will be ok. They will eat algae off rocks and substrate but seem to prefer flat surfaces. And, yes they can and will go on walkabout.