{"product_id":"nerite-snail-clithon-oualaniensis","title":"Nerite Snail | Clithon oualaniensis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Nerite Snail is one of the best algae eaters in the hobby and a planted-tank staple — a small, tirelessly grazing snail that cleans glass, wood and leaves without ever touching healthy plants. The nerite available in Australia is the native \u003cem\u003eClithon oualaniensis\u003c\/em\u003e, a compact species around 1 cm, sold in a wonderful range of natural shell patterns. Best of all, it will not overrun your tank with babies the way most other snails do.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to northern Australia and widespread through the Indo-Pacific, living in the lower freshwater and estuarine reaches of coastal streams and mangrove creeks, where it grazes rock, wood and hard surfaces. It naturally moves between fresh and brackish water across its life cycle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA small, glossy, rounded shell in an unusually variable range of natural patterns — zigzags, fine stripes, spots, flames and blotches, in olive, black, yellow, cream and orange. No two are quite alike, which is much of the appeal. Adults typically reach around 1 cm, occasionally to 1.5 cm, making them ideal for nano and planted tanks where larger snails look out of scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompletely peaceful, non-predatory and fully community-safe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA dedicated algae grazer, excellent at stripping soft algae, diatoms and biofilm from glass, hardscape and plant leaves. Supplement with algae wafers or blanched vegetables if algae growth in the tank is limited — a common cause of nerite losses is a tank simply too clean to feed them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeeds a mature, fully cycled aquarium — it is sensitive to ammonia and nitrite spikes in new tanks. Keep water alkaline and mineral-rich to support shell health, since soft or acidic water will pit and erode the shell over time. Never use copper-based medications. Their small size means a modest tank suits a small group well.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdults will mate and lay small white egg capsules on glass, decor and shells in freshwater, but the larvae require brackish water to develop — without a dedicated brackish rearing tank, the eggs simply never hatch. This makes nerites a reliable \"won't take over your tank\" algae eater, though the cosmetic egg capsules themselves can be a minor eyesore on decor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClithon oualaniensis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNerite Snail, Australian Nerite Snail, Dwarf Nerite\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern Australia and the wider Indo-Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–1.5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–2 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20+ litres, mature and cycled\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAlgae grazer — soft algae, diatoms, biofilm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–18 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater; tolerates low-end brackish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature planted, nano and community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes — one of the most reliably plant-safe algae grazers in the hobby\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAny peaceful community fish, shrimp or other snails.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid pufferfish, loaches and other dedicated snail-eaters. Otherwise safe with anything peaceful.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: the African zebra nerite (Vittina \/ Neritina natalensis) and other patterned imported nerites are not permitted for live import into Australia. The nerite sold here is the native Clithon oualaniensis — smaller, and naturally variable in pattern.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55293538402595,"sku":"AA6317","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/nerite-snail-10281519317283-sa.webp?v=1790318148","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/nerite-snail-clithon-oualaniensis","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}