When I got my first fish tank with several Japanese ricefish I heard about the option of adding a snail or two to the aquarium but I wondered why fish keepers recommended that, to begin with. I did some research into the subject.
Snails and slugs can be very good for the aquarium, especially if you want to maintain your fish tank as naturally as possible and without extra equipment. Snails can do a great job of cleaning the tank because they consume algae and waste but you might need to control their reproduction. The environment in your tank should be right for the snail you choose to help it thrive.
If you are interested in keeping snails just for the overall well-being of the fish, rather than to breed them, you do have a couple of great options.
Why Snails Are Good For Your Fish Tank
Aquarium snails can be useful for the fish and the health of the environment in the aquarium in general, as long as they do not reproduce in large numbers:
- Snails consume waste for a living. They clean up waste produced by fish and any food leftovers, so the aquarium is more likely to have a balanced and stable environment.
- These tank dwellers also function as a natural mechanical filter by cleaning the walls, decorations, and the surface of the water of any debris and algae, which occurs in most aquariums to at least some degree.
- With the right balance of snails and natural plants, some fish keepers do not even have to perform partial water changes, they just top off the water when the water level is low.
Although some fish keepers might need a minute to get used to the idea of having a snail in the tank, most people begin to appreciate these additions to the aquarium community. Snails can be fun to observe and they add variety to the aquarium.
Most of them are completely harmless and are not interested in eating natural plants in your tank, so there is nothing but benefits from adding a snail or two to your fish tank.
How Many Snails Should I Have If I Not Breeding Them?
The general rule is that 1 or 2 snails per 5 gallons (3.8 L) of water are a good number unless you are particularly interested in snails and your aquarium has few fish in it. Then you could have a few more.
Keep in mind that many kinds of snails can self-fertilize so keeping snails of just one gender may not prevent them from proliferating. Snails also can store sperm for weeks so one mating session can keep producing offspring multiple times
If you worry about the overpopulation of snails, consider going with nerite snails that do not reproduce in freshwater aquariums.
GREAT LOW-MAINTENANCE SNAILS FOR A FISH TANK
Zebra nerites (Neritina natalensis) and Tiger nerites (Vittina semiconica) are both fabulous options because they do well in a variety of tank conditions and do not reproduce in a freshwater tank. They are also amazing at keeping the aquarium clean of algae and waste products.
The main difference between these two varieties of nerite snails is that Tiger nerites are larger and the patterns on their shells are different.
Please know that both species are known for being able to crawl out of the aquarium occasionally. The solution to this problem if to either keep the water levels not too high or to keep a lid on.
Both invertebrates need a lot of calcium in their diets and are sensitive to high levels of copper and nitrates. Calcium can be supplemented through diet but you would need to monitor the levels of copper in the water.
Zebra nerites (Neritina natalensis)
| Origin | Central and Eastern Africa, including Kenya and Somalia |
| Size | up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) |
| Water temperature | 65-85 F (18-29 C) |
| pH range | 6.5 -8.5 |
| Food | algae (algae supplement if little algae grow in the tank), small pieces of blanched veggies, green veggies, including spinach and kale, are great due to these snails’ high calcium requirement |
Tiger nerites (Vittina semiconica)
| Origin | Central, Eastern, and South Africa |
| Size | 1- 1.5 in (2.5-3.8 cm) |
| Water temperature | 65-85 F (18-29 C) |
| pH range | 6.5 -8.5 |
| Food | algae (algae supplement if little algae grow in the tank), small pieces of blanched veggies, green veggies due to these snails’ high calcium requirement |
Nerite snails are inexpensive, similar to most other snails. Since many fish keepers are interested in adding just a couple of them to their tanks, and these snails do not reproduce in fresh water, these invertebrates are often sold as a pair of a Tiger and a Zebra nerite for less than 10$.
If your tank has Goldfish, please be aware that the fish might eat these snails! Some other larger species of pet fish can do the same. Nerite snails are great with smaller, peaceful aquarium fish that need similar conditions to thrive. They develop a perfect relationship to support each other in a community aquarium.
To Conclude
Overall, snails, as well as some slugs, can be a fabulous addition to your community aquarium.
Make sure the snail you consider and your fish have very similar parameter requirements for their habitat. Have a plan for their well-known ability to reproduce, or get a nerite snail.
Snails are beautiful to observe, even if it takes you some time to fully appreciate them and they can be an amazing natural way to keep the aquarium clean and as natural as possible.
