NERITINA RECLIVATA
aka OLIVE NERITE or MARBLE SNAIL
by: Wilma Duncan
aka OLIVE NERITE or MARBLE SNAIL
by: Wilma Duncan
I became acquainted with this interesting snail in the late 90's after ordering a few with an
aquarium plant order. Not only are they interesting to keep but very useful in aquarium
keeping. Snails are great to keep an aquarium in balance as they slowly and deliberately cover
every square inch of the tank including the aquarium plants and decors. Never do they harm
plants or fish, only consuming uneaten food and dead plant material. They are well known for
algae consumption.
NERITINA RECLIVATA is the only member of the giant Gastropod family and is often found in
freshwater. In the United States they are found in Florida. They are also found abroad in the
Caribbean. They can amazingly adapt to freshwater, brackish, and marine water. Mine have
adapted completely to freshwater. In the wild they can travel between different types of water
They are not only a hardy snail, but display very unique markings. A relatively small snail,
reaching a size of about an inch in diameter. They have small squiggly dark lines that cover
their shell structure. The coloring is an exquiste olive green and a unique pattern similar to
fingerprints. No two are alike. Some have dark squiggly markings, shells a dark, almost black
coloring with no squiggly lines visible to the naked eye. Some have a white ring-like mark
around their appendage, similar to the markings found in marbles. These have been named by
distributors as MARBLE NERITE.
Nerites are fairly easy to keep, preferring hard water for successful reproduction. They can be
kept in soft water, under a watchful eye to see that their shells do not begin to deteriorate from
lack of calcium. I have had them arrive with barnacles covering their shells and scrapes that
appeared to be made by an animal attempting to eat the snail. Since Nerites specialize in eating
herbivore foods, with a diet consisting of diatoms and other small algae, I have discovered that
feeding algae wafers and wafers high in vegetable contents, along with proper water changes,
helps to aide in new shell growth which will replace the part that displays damage.
Nerite snails are not hermaphrodites, so there must be at least a male and a female before eggs
are internally fertilized and productive. Females will lay individual whitish-colored eggs in a single
line or in a group. They can hatch and do survive in freshwater tanks, with the young feeding off
plankton nutrients. However, you will find only a few unless you place the breeding pair in a
special tank setup. One without a power filter or canister which tends to pull the small larvae into
the filter and death occurs. If you need to have a power filter, place nylon netting or filter floss
over the intake tube. Most eggs are not disturbed by small fish and I have raised baby Nerites
with Corydorus catfish, guppies and small tetras.
When receiving an order of freshwater Nerite snails, they will be in the dormant stage upon
arrival. Slowly acclimate them to your aquarium water. Losses will most often not happen or be
at a minimum if you do this properly. It may take up to 24 hours before all the snails begin to
move about, so be patient. When adding them to the tank, try placing them right side-up. I have
been told that unless you do, they don't seem to be able to turn right side-up. I have not found
this to be true in my handling of the Nerite snail. If looking for an interesting snail to keep, I
highly recommend them and when fed well they will live a long time.
EDUCATIONAL WARNING: As hobbyists we must take responsibility to see that no non-native
specie is ever released into our native streams or waterways. If you find yourself in the position
of needing to find a home for an aquatic specie, try your local fish store or the internet to
advertise that you are seeking a new home. Keep your snails from becoming a bad snail by not
releasing it into the wild.
aquarium plant order. Not only are they interesting to keep but very useful in aquarium
keeping. Snails are great to keep an aquarium in balance as they slowly and deliberately cover
every square inch of the tank including the aquarium plants and decors. Never do they harm
plants or fish, only consuming uneaten food and dead plant material. They are well known for
algae consumption.
NERITINA RECLIVATA is the only member of the giant Gastropod family and is often found in
freshwater. In the United States they are found in Florida. They are also found abroad in the
Caribbean. They can amazingly adapt to freshwater, brackish, and marine water. Mine have
adapted completely to freshwater. In the wild they can travel between different types of water
They are not only a hardy snail, but display very unique markings. A relatively small snail,
reaching a size of about an inch in diameter. They have small squiggly dark lines that cover
their shell structure. The coloring is an exquiste olive green and a unique pattern similar to
fingerprints. No two are alike. Some have dark squiggly markings, shells a dark, almost black
coloring with no squiggly lines visible to the naked eye. Some have a white ring-like mark
around their appendage, similar to the markings found in marbles. These have been named by
distributors as MARBLE NERITE.
Nerites are fairly easy to keep, preferring hard water for successful reproduction. They can be
kept in soft water, under a watchful eye to see that their shells do not begin to deteriorate from
lack of calcium. I have had them arrive with barnacles covering their shells and scrapes that
appeared to be made by an animal attempting to eat the snail. Since Nerites specialize in eating
herbivore foods, with a diet consisting of diatoms and other small algae, I have discovered that
feeding algae wafers and wafers high in vegetable contents, along with proper water changes,
helps to aide in new shell growth which will replace the part that displays damage.
Nerite snails are not hermaphrodites, so there must be at least a male and a female before eggs
are internally fertilized and productive. Females will lay individual whitish-colored eggs in a single
line or in a group. They can hatch and do survive in freshwater tanks, with the young feeding off
plankton nutrients. However, you will find only a few unless you place the breeding pair in a
special tank setup. One without a power filter or canister which tends to pull the small larvae into
the filter and death occurs. If you need to have a power filter, place nylon netting or filter floss
over the intake tube. Most eggs are not disturbed by small fish and I have raised baby Nerites
with Corydorus catfish, guppies and small tetras.
When receiving an order of freshwater Nerite snails, they will be in the dormant stage upon
arrival. Slowly acclimate them to your aquarium water. Losses will most often not happen or be
at a minimum if you do this properly. It may take up to 24 hours before all the snails begin to
move about, so be patient. When adding them to the tank, try placing them right side-up. I have
been told that unless you do, they don't seem to be able to turn right side-up. I have not found
this to be true in my handling of the Nerite snail. If looking for an interesting snail to keep, I
highly recommend them and when fed well they will live a long time.
EDUCATIONAL WARNING: As hobbyists we must take responsibility to see that no non-native
specie is ever released into our native streams or waterways. If you find yourself in the position
of needing to find a home for an aquatic specie, try your local fish store or the internet to
advertise that you are seeking a new home. Keep your snails from becoming a bad snail by not
releasing it into the wild.
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Copyright @2007 WD
THE CAUSE, INC