TankStockingNerite Snail Tank Mates
Nerite snails are the hobby's best algae-eaters — peaceful, tiny, and unable to overpopulate a freshwater tank.
Their larvae need brackish water, so they never breed into a plague in freshwater, and they graze algae tirelessly without touching healthy plants. They clear the engine against virtually every fish; the only cautions are snail-eaters and tentacle-nippers.
Nerite Snail key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Nerite Snail pairings.
| Adult size | 2.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 5 US gal |
| Minimum group | 1 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 22–27°C |
| pH range | 7–8.5 |
| Bioload | Low |
| Swim level | All levels |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Nerite Snail figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.
- Nerite Snail Neritina/Vittina spp. — Aquarium Co-Op nerite snail care; Aquatic Arts high confidence
- Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
- Assassin Snail Clea helena (Anentome helena) — The Shrimp Farm (theshrimpfarm.com/posts/assassin-snail-care) high confidence
- Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
- Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
- Celestial Pearl Danio Celestichthys margaritatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-margaritatus) high confidence
- Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis — Seriously Fish — Oliotius oligolepis (https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/oliotius-oligolepis/) high confidence
- Cherry Barb Puntius titteya — Seriously Fish (Puntius titteya) seriouslyfish.com/species/puntius-titteya high confidence
- Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi — Aquarium Co-Op cherry shrimp care; The Shrimp Farm high confidence
- Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/boraras-brigittae) high confidence
Your tank
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Search 126 freshwater species by name or group.
Verdict
Top Nerite Snail tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Nerite Snail and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amano Shrimp | 5 cm | 18–27°C | 3+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Assassin Snail | 2 cm | 18–25°C | 1 | Bottom | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Neon Tetra | 3.5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Phantom Tetra | 3.6 cm | 20–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | 2.1 cm | 20–26°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Checker Barb | 5 cm | 20–25°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Barb | 5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Shrimp | 3 cm | 18–28°C | 6+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Chili Rasbora | 2 cm | 20–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Nerite Snail, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Cichlids
Corydoras
Livebearers
Loaches
Plecos & Catfish
Rasboras
Best avoided
A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Nerite Snail.
- Banded Gourami — Predation risk
- Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
- Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
- Three-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami — Predation risk
- Bala Shark — Predation risk
- Denison Barb (Roseline Shark) — Predation risk
- Rosy Barb — Predation risk
- Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
- Convict Cichlid — Predation risk
- Discus — Temperature clash
- Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
- Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk
- Freshwater Angelfish — Predation risk
- German Blue Ram — Temperature clash
Nerite Snail community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Nerite + betta
✓ Good starter plan1× Nerite Snail, 1× Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)
The classic low-stock pairing: a single betta with an algae-grazing nerite.
Load this build in the planner ↑Nerite + nano community
✓ Good starter plan2× Nerite Snail, 8× Ember Tetra, 8× Cherry Shrimp
A peaceful nano clean-up crew alongside a tiny ember school.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with nerite snails?
Nearly all peaceful community fish, plus shrimp. Avoid snail-eating species (loaches, pufferfish, assassin snails) and persistent fin-nippers that harass their tentacles.
Will nerite snails take over my tank?
No. Their larvae require brackish water to develop, so they cannot reproduce in a freshwater tank — they lay small white eggs but never multiply into a pest population.
Do nerite snails eat plants?
No — they graze algae off surfaces and leave healthy plants alone, which is why they are the go-to algae-eater for planted tanks.
More on Nerite Snail
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Nerite Snail live with…?
Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.