No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Red Spot Nerite Snail
Clithon diadema
📍 Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and surrounding regions
The Red Spot Nerite Snail is a small, attractive freshwater snail featuring a dark shell with distinctive red or orange spots. These peaceful grazers are excellent algae eaters and are popular in planted and community tanks. They are hardy, easy to care for, and do not reproduce in freshwater, making them ideal for most aquariums.
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with Red Spot Nerite Snail to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Care Guide
Diet
Red Spot Nerite Snails are primarily herbivorous and spend most of their time grazing on algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter. Supplement with blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach) and algae wafers if algae is scarce. Provide calcium-rich foods or calcium supplements to maintain shell health.
Behavior
These snails are nocturnal and spend much of the day resting on surfaces, becoming more active at night. They are slow-moving grazers that methodically consume algae and biofilm from tank surfaces. They are generally solitary but can coexist peacefully with other snails and fish.
Breeding
Red Spot Nerite Snails lay eggs above the waterline on hard surfaces, but the larvae require brackish water to develop successfully. In freshwater aquariums, eggs will not hatch, so these snails will not overrun a tank. This makes them an excellent choice for population control.
Tank Mates
Both are peaceful algae grazers and occupy similar ecological niches without conflict
Small, peaceful invertebrates that coexist well with nerite snails
Small, peaceful fish that do not interact with or threaten snails
Tiny, gentle fish that ignore snails and create a harmonious community
Peaceful and generally ignore snails; monitor for any aggression
Both are algae eaters that work synergistically to keep the tank clean
Common Diseases
Shell Erosion / Calcium Deficiency
Pitted, thin, or crumbling shell; slow growth; visible damage to shell surface
Increase water hardness (GH 6-12), add calcium supplements or cuttlebone, ensure pH is neutral to slightly alkaline (6.5-8.0), and provide calcium-rich foods
Copper Toxicity
Lethargy, shell damage, refusal to feed, withdrawal into shell for extended periods
Immediately perform large water changes; remove any copper-containing medications or treatments; use copper-free plant fertilizers; test water for copper levels
Parasitic Infections (Flukes/Worms)
Excessive mucus production, erratic movement, shell damage, refusal to graze
Perform frequent water changes; quarantine affected snails; use snail-safe treatments; maintain excellent water quality and avoid copper-based medications
Bacterial Shell Disease
Discoloration, pitting, or soft spots on shell; foul odor; visible decay
Improve water quality with frequent changes; increase aeration; maintain proper pH and hardness; remove decaying food and waste promptly; ensure adequate calcium intake
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- diet
- Herbivore/detritivore; grazes on algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter
- lifespan
- 3-5 years
- max size
- 2 cm (0.75 in)
- tank size
- 5 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5-8.0
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 6-12 dGH
- temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)