Zebra Nerite Snails
- In stock, ready to ship
- Inventory on the way
- Live Arrival Guarantee
- Get free shipping on non-live fish orders over $75 and live fish orders over $300.
- All our live fish, shrimp, snails are care with love and passion, when through minimum of 14 days quarantined and shipped from Splashy Fish facility in Springfield, Virginia, USA
This is only apply to live fish order.
Live Arrival Guarantee:
Benefit from our extensive experience in shipping live fish. In 2021, our records indicated a mere 0.5% dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate for all live fish orders, compared to the industry standard of 1.5%. These numbers translate to only 5 out of 1000 orders experiencing DOA fish.
At Splashy Fish, customer satisfaction is our priority. That's why we provide a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee on all animals shipped via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Please note - Splashy Fish reserves the right to void Live Arrival Guarantee protection under the following circumstances:
- The customer has chosen USPS First Class Mail as a shipping method.
- The shipping address is a PO Box address
- The order was refused delivery by the customer.
- If the order is returned to the sender for any reason. For instance, an incorrect shipping address, an undeliverable address, etc.
- The order was held for pick up at USPS, UPS, and FedEx offices for longer than 24 hours after the last update on the tracking number.
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not include all the requirements mentioned below
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim is made after the claim period mentioned below.
- The animals are not in their original packaging
Live Arrival Guarantee Claim Period:
For Live Fish and other invertebrates: one and a half hours (1.5 hours) after the posted delivery time.
For Snails: 48 hours after the posted delivery time.
Steps to claim Splashy Fish's Live Arrival Guarantee:
- Take a picture of the shipping box and the shipping label.
- For live fish and other invertebrates: Please provide two pictures of each bag (containing the dead fish) upon arrival. Ensure the images display the bag in its original, unopened condition with the original rubber band intact
- For Snails: Position the snail in one corner of the tank. If the snail does not move within 48 hours, please take several pictures of the snail's opening
- Send an email to DOA@splashyfishstore.com with the subject line: DOA and Your Order Number, or message us on social media.
- In the body of the email, include your tracking number.
- The claim must be sent within the claim period mentioned above.
After submitting the required information, please allow us 1-3 business days to determine the cause of the issue. If the claim is valid and approved by our team, you will
- Receive a store credit for future purchases, excluding the shipping cost, of the dead-on-arrival fish
If the Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not meet all listed requirements, Splashy Fish reserves the right to reject it.
Shipping live animals and plants is a complex process, and temperature plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and secure delivery of your order.
If the highest daytime temperature in your location and the lowest nighttime temperature here in Springfield, Virginia—where our facility is situated—fall below 40°F or exceed 90°F, we will proactively delay your order. This measure is taken to prioritize the well-being of the animals and plants.
For the safety of our living cargo and to protect your investment, we retain the right to suspend shipping as necessary due to extreme weather conditions. Our Splashy Fish team will assess the situation and determine if it is unsuitable to ship, considering the safety of the animals.
To stay informed or address any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our dedicated Splashy Fish Support team via email at support@splashyfishstore.com.
Once our team prints and packs your order, we'll notify you via email. This notification will include your tracking number and the expected arrival day. If you opt for UPS 2 Day shipping, your package should arrive within 2 days after shipment. Similarly, if you choose UPS 1 Day, your order will reach you the day after it is shipped. In the case of orders containing only plants or dry goods, they may be shipped via USPS, provided that this is the selected shipping option during checkout.
We ship all of the customer orders from our warehouse located in Springfield, VA. We pack and ship our orders depending on the orders with the exception of someday we cannot ship out live fish.
All Orders: will be shipped out from Monday to Thursday each week for overnight shipping by UPS.
Sunday: (Splashy Day) Today is the day we let our hard-working team members and our fish to destress and ready for the following week's shipment.
For more information regarding about shipping please visit us our Shipping Policy and Schedule
Zebra Nerite Snails (Neritina natalensis) are among the most popular freshwater snails in the aquarium hobby, and it’s easy to see why. With bold black and gold zig-zag stripes across their shells, these snails bring a clean, modern aesthetic to any tank. Native to the brackish and freshwater rivers of Africa, Zebra Nerites are small (up to 1 inch), peaceful, and highly effective at controlling algae. They spend their time tirelessly grazing on glass, rocks, plant leaves, and driftwood—removing algae without harming plants or disrupting your tank’s balance. Perfect for both beginner and experienced aquarists alike, Zebra Snails are a staple in the cleanup crew world.
Why Should You Choose Zebra Nerite Snails?
If you’re looking for the ultimate natural algae cleaner, Zebra Nerites are the gold standard. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they’re also non-invasive—unlike pest snails, they won’t overpopulate your tank. They’re ideal for planted tanks, shrimp tanks, and nano aquariums, where a strong, low-bioload algae grazer is needed.
Top Benefits:
- Iconic zebra-striped shell design
- Exceptional algae removal ability
- Safe for shrimp, plants, and nano tanks
- Will not breed in freshwater—no overpopulation
- Hardy and easy to care for
Recommended Tank Parameters
- Tank Size: 5 gallons or more
- pH: 7.0 – 8.4
- Temperature: 72 – 78°F (22 – 26°C)
- Water Hardness: Moderate to hard
- Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: < 40 ppm
- Substrate: Any
- Water Type: Freshwater or brackish
A tight-fitting aquarium lid is strongly recommended—Zebra Nerites are known for escaping if given the chance!
Zebra Nerite Snails Breeding
Zebra Nerite Snails will not reproduce in freshwater. While they may lay small, white egg capsules on tank surfaces, these will not hatch unless the snails are in brackish water conditions. This makes them a low-risk algae solution with zero risk of overpopulation.
Zebra Nerite Snails Tank Compatibility
Zebra Nerites are completely peaceful and can be housed with:
- Freshwater shrimp
- Small community fish like Guppies, Rasboras, and Tetras
- Corydoras and Otocinclus
- Other snails like Mystery or Horned Nerites
Avoid aggressive fish like Loaches or puffers that may harm or eat snails.
Zebra Nerite Snails Diet
Zebra Nerite Snails are natural algae grazers, feeding on:
- Soft green algae
- Diatoms and biofilm
- Algae on glass, driftwood, and decor
If supplemental feeding is needed:
- Offer algae wafers
- Blanched spinach or zucchini
- Spirulina flakes or calcium-rich snail food
Avoid overfeeding to prevent ammonia spikes—remove uneaten food after a few hours.
Visit here for more detailed information about How to Care for Nerite Snails.
Why Should You Buy Zebra Nerite Snails at Splashy Fish Store?
At Splashy Fish tropical fish store, our Zebra Nerite Snails for sale and other Nerite Snails for sale are tank-bred, grown, and sold with love and care. Visit our fish store online or aquarium in Virginia for more high-quality freshwater snails for sale and freshwater fish for sale. We also have a lot more aquarium products available, such as betta fish for sale, aquatic plants for sale, freshwater shrimp, and other aquarium supplies.
Zebra Nerite Snails Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the biggest size of Zebra Nerite Snails?
Zebra Nerite Snails (Neritina natalensis) typically grow to a maximum size of 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Most adult snails reach around 0.75–1 inch when fully grown, making them ideal for nano tanks, planted aquariums, and shrimp setups. Their compact size, combined with their strong algae-eating ability, makes them one of the most efficient and low-impact algae cleaners in the freshwater hobby.
Why are my Zebra Nerite Snails not moving?
If your Zebra Nerite Snails are not moving, it could be due to:
- Acclimation stress after being introduced to a new tank
- Poor water quality (ammonia, nitrite, or sudden parameter changes)
- Low temperature—snails become inactive below 70°F (21°C)
- Natural resting behavior—they may stay still for several hours
- In rare cases, it may indicate the snail has passed. Gently check by observing the smell or operculum (trapdoor)—a foul odor is a clear sign.
Always ensure stable, clean water conditions with a temperature range of 72–78°F (22–26°C), and check your tank's pH, hardness, and nitrate levels to keep your snails active and healthy.
What is Zebra Nerite Snails lifespan?
The average lifespan of a Zebra Nerite Snail is 1 to 2 years in a well-maintained freshwater or brackish aquarium. With optimal water conditions—stable pH (7.0–8.4), hard water, and no ammonia or nitrite—they can live longer, sometimes exceeding 2+ years. Providing a calcium-rich diet and avoiding sudden changes in temperature or salinity will help extend their lifespan and maintain healthy shell growth.
Due to the natural nature of this product, we cannot guarantee it will look exactly as pictured *