Red Racer Nerite Snails

Although there are many beautiful Nerite snail varieties out there, red racer Nerites really take the cake. These 1.2″ (3cm) snails feature a brightly colored shell with red and orange bands and a row of “v’s” that looks just like a racing track.

These snails tend to be active when lights are off or dimmed; they can scale the side of the aquarium and may find themselves above the water line at times. They are overall peaceful and benefit your tank’s ecosystem.

If you’re interested in keeping these snails, make sure you have an aquarium of at least 3 gallons (or more if you want to keep more snails). As always, the tank should be filtered and fully cycled. A heater is usually a must as well.

Red racer Nerites prefer a diet of algae and biofilm. This means it’s not a good idea to go crazy with cleaning tools every week: a squeaky clean aquarium makes for hungry Nerites. Leave algae growing on one or more of the glass panes or even grow it separately on rocks, which can then be added to the tank if you don’t like the ‘dirty’ look.

If you’re here at The Shrimp Farm, you’re probably interested in both shrimp and snails. You’re in luck – they are the perfect combo! Both red racer Nerites (and other snails) and (dwarf) shrimp are very peaceful. Shrimp especially won’t do well with larger and more aggressive tankmates, so these harmless Nerites are a great choice if you want to add some extra life to your shrimp tank.