Snails are featured with their slow pace, even slower than the turtle. These creatures fetch the attention of aquarists due to some unique features. Besides the multi-color addition to the aquarium, they also keep clean fish tanks because they are excellent algae eaters.
Commonly available at every aquarium store and requiring no need to break the bank are among their familiarity reasons. If you are at an aqua store and float a question to the shopkeeper about their breeding ability, mostly they replayed the answer no.
But in reality, they can breed. For breading, it requires not a big or some unique setup. Even beginner aquarists can do it in their fish tank.
How it can be possible? What's required? How to successfully hatch the eggs? For proper answers, you have to read carefully till the last word.
Why do people say they can’t breed?
The reason for no is that they require special environmental conditions. Moreover, they are asexual. No one can recognize the difference between males and females.
How to breed Nerite snails?
As said in the previous section, it’s quite impossible to discriminate against them on a gender basis. But, you can get a new breed of Nerites if you put them in a group of five or more. Then there will be a higher chance that they will breed successfully due to the presence of nerite females in the group.
Suitable aquarium parameters for breeding
Nerites can live in both soft and brackish water. Moreover, they can spend hours out of the water. But in the case of breeding, they always prefer to raise their new generation in a brackish water tank.
Brackish water condition is in between soft and salty water. If you are going to breed Nerite snails in your freshwater tank, then you have to remove soft water up to a certain level and mix salty water to provide them with suitable water conditions.
On the other hand, if there is salty water, then dilute it with soft water. Use the hydrometer to check the specific gravity of water which directly correlate with salinity.
Temperature is another worth considering parameter. Although they can survive in an extended temperature span 79℉ is an ideal temperature for breeding. So, use the thermometer to keep an eye on the water temperature.
Add more driftwood to the aquarium because females love to lay eggs on driftwood or other decorative pieces. They can even lay eggs over plant leaves or on the shell of male Nerite.
How do eggs hatch?
Do you think like this? The male fertilizes the eggs, the female lays them, and the new generation will be there. It may sound nice in the case of many other species but not true at all in the case of nerite snails.
Eggs hatching requires optimum water parameters. You have to provide them habitat just like their natural one. The previous section covers all of the required parameters for hatching. If everything is fine, then the eggs will turn black after a minimum of three days. After 7 days, you will see larvae in your aquarium.
Measures for larvae protection
Larvae are small enough that the power filters can affect them. There are special sponge filters to meet up this issue. Other than filters, they are also very delicate in the early days.
So, to make hard their shell stock them in a separate brackish water tank. Besides the shell, provide them with a 1.6” thick substrate. Consider the material substrate to save their delicate feet. Sharp edge stone or hard substrate material can damage them. Therefore, add sand and small pebbles with round edges for their up growth.
What should feed to baby Nerite snails?
Feed them what they love to eat i.e. algae. Stock them in algae grown fish tank. Due to their herbivorous nature, they will eat them and clean the tank. Only algae are not enough for their proper growth.
To meet with their nutritional diet, supply them with chopped pieces of veg in their tank i.e. cucumber, Spanish, and Zucchini. But take care in supply.
Feed them according to their desire because excessive chopped vegs can create multiple problems i.e nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia hike in the tank. These all chemical components turn an aquarium into a lethal tank.
How to avoid Nerite from escaping?
Nerites act like cruise and car at the same time. Therefore, you’ve taken care of them to avoid them from being escaped from the fish tank. If you want to keep them in captivity, then you have to adapt proper measures. Some of the requirements to bind them with the aquarium walls are discussed in the following.
Cover the tank
It’s quite obvious to restrain them within tank walls. Cover the tank with a lid to remain them bound to your set environment. But keep in mind that they will never tend to live within the water. They always looking for some escape point. Often they stick them underside of the lid.
So, be careful when you are removing the lid. Here is a tip for you to make them happy, leave them out of the water frequently.
Keep an eye on the water parameter
Every living thing thrives excellently within its natural habitat. It is also applicable over the nerites.
About 200+ species are discovered now from various parts of the globe. But, interestingly, all of the nerites thrive best within slight variations in water parameters.
But a general rule of thumb is that they can thrive well within 8.1 to 8.4 pH and 65℉ to 85℉. It is a wide range, and numerous aqua pets can thrive well within said range. So, it opens an opportunity to keep them in your fish tank.
Don’t stock aggressive neighbors
Aggravate mates can create tension among the peaceful nerites. They want to get leave from such partners and entice them to escape. If you are interested to see snail's colors in your fish tank, then you have to keep them with the peaceful aquatic community. Never put aside from the cichlids and loaches.
Feast them with their favorite
They love to eat algae and chopped veg pieces. So to keep them in captivity, make sure an adequate supply of favorite food. If they are hungry, then they may go out of the tank to feast on some tasty snacks.
Conclusion
The crux of the entire discussion is that for proper breeding, you have to provide them with specific water parameters and have to keep them in groups of 5 or more. It will enhance the probability of successful breeding.
After hatching, you have to put the baby Nerites snails in a separate tank to avoid them from immediate death. You’ve to keep in view multiple parameters to avoid them from being escaped from the tank. A single Nerite snail can serve you for 1 to 2 years.
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