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Freshwater Invertebrates

Red Spot Nerite Snail

Orange-red shells flecked in black — the showpiece of the nerite family.

Vittina semiconica
Available for local pickup by appointment only.

Warm orange to red shells with crisp black markings, and the same tireless algae grazing every nerite brings. Red spots stand out hardest against dark substrate and green plants, and they work glass, rock, and driftwood without ever damaging a leaf.

Reference image — cultivar may vary.Imagen de referencia — el cultivar puede variar.

Photo: Foto: Llez, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Care Sheet

What it needs to thrive

Lighting
Any — a little algae growth on glass and hardscape keeps them grazing.
Flow
Low to moderate. A tight-fitting lid or lower waterline keeps wanderers in the tank.
Feeding
Algae and biofilm grazers. Supplement with algae wafers or blanched zucchini in clean, low-algae aquariums.
Temperament
Completely peaceful and plant-safe. Copper-sensitive — never dose copper medications.
Difficulty
Beginner
Ideal Tank Size
5 gallons and up per snail, fully cycled.
Water Parameters
72–80°F · pH 7.0–8.2 · GH 6–12 · KH 3–8 · copper-free · calcium-rich water for shell health
Placement

Anywhere in a cycled planted tank. Attractive enough to keep as a display animal, not just a cleaner.

Aggression & handling

Peaceful, plant-safe, shrimp-safe. Copper-sensitive.

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Arrival Protocol

Quarantine, dip, and acclimation

Quarantine

Hold all new fish in a bare-bottom 10–20 gallon QT for a minimum of 4 weeks. Observe for flashing, clamped fins, white spots, or breathing changes. Treat preventatively with copper (1.75–2.5 ppm chelated) or tank-transfer method for ich, plus a praziquantel course for flukes. Invertebrates and corals skip QT but go through dip and observation instead.

Recommended coral dip

For every new coral: a 5–10 minute bath in your reef-safe dip of choice (Bayer Complete, CoralRx, or Reef Primer) following label dosage, followed by two clean saltwater rinses. Inspect plugs and bases for flatworms, pyramid snails, and eggs — remove or refrag onto clean plugs before placing in display.

Acclimation

Float sealed bags in your QT or display for 15 minutes to match temperature. Then drip acclimate at 2–4 drops per second for 45–60 minutes until volume has tripled. Net livestock into the tank — never pour shipping water in. Dim the lights for the first 24 hours to reduce stress.

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