Embrace the Enchanting Nerite Zebra Snails

Zebra snails, also known as nerite snails (Neritina natalensis), are fantastic additions to any tropical freshwater aquarium. These little algae-eating champions work tirelessly to keep your tank clean. They devour various types of algae, including those stubborn brown diatoms, green spot algae, and the soft film that builds up on glass, decorations, and plant leaves. What's really great is how thorough they are—they'll methodically clean every surface they can reach. With their eye-catching striped shells and active personalities, they're fun to watch as they glide around the tank. Best of all, they won't overpopulate your aquarium. While they might lay small white eggs on surfaces, these eggs can only hatch in brackish water, not in your freshwater tank. This means you'll never wake up to hundreds of unwanted baby snails.

These peaceful little cleaners get along with everyone in your tank. They're completely safe with fish, shrimp, and live plants. Unlike some snails, they won't munch on your healthy plants—they only eat algae and biofilm. They're also pretty easy to care for. Zebra snails do well in typical tropical temperatures between 72-78°F and can adapt to different water conditions, though they appreciate harder water with good calcium levels to keep their shells healthy. At only about an inch across when fully grown, they can squeeze into tight spots between decorations and plants where algae likes to hide. Keeping a few zebra snails in your aquarium means less scrubbing for you and a naturally balanced, cleaner tank.