TankBud

Fancy antler snail

Clithon sowerianum

Also known as Antler nerite, Fancy horned nerite

FreshwaterBrackishSnail

Fancy antler snail (Clithon sowerianum)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
0.8 in
2 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
19 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Neritidae
Origin
Coastal streams of Southeast Asia

Overview

The fancy antler snail is a small, peaceful nerite with a horned shell, kept as a tireless algae grazer. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The fancy antler snail's shell horns are not just decoration. They make it an awkward, spiky mouthful, which discourages fish and other predators from trying to swallow it whole in the wild.

Caring for the fancy antler snail

Keep one fancy antler snail, or add a few to a larger tank to match the algae on offer. It is not a social animal and neither needs nor forms groups. A mature tank of 5 gal (19 L) or more is plenty, with algae-covered surfaces, wood and rock to graze. Fit a tight lid, since nerites can wander above the waterline.

Keep the water stable and well filtered. It wants hard, alkaline conditions at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C), with a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. In soft or acidic water the shell begins to pit and dissolve.

It works slowly over glass, rock, wood and broad leaves, rasping off films of algae and biofilm with its tongue. It leaves healthy plants alone. A clean tank will not feed it for long, so top up its diet with algae wafers and Spirulina tablets.

The fancy antler snail is peaceful and completely safe with fish and shrimp. Keep it away from snail-eating fish. Like all nerites, it will not build up a population in a freshwater tank.

Good to know

The fancy antler snail, Clithon sowerianum, is a nerite snail in the family Neritidae. Its shell grows branched, antler-like projections instead of the simple single spikes of related thorn snails. The horns vary from snail to snail and can be worn down or snapped off. They can regrow in hard water with plenty of minerals.

In the wild

The fancy antler snail comes from the clear coastal streams of Southeast Asia, where hard, mineral-rich water keeps nerite shells sound.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The fancy antler snail is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a fancy antler snail need?

A fancy antler snail needs at least 5 gal (19 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a fancy antler snail need?

A fancy antler snail is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does a fancy antler snail eat?

A fancy antler snail grazes films of algae and biofilm from glass, rock, wood and broad leaves. Once the tank runs clean, top up its diet with algae wafers and Spirulina tablets.

How big does a fancy antler snail get?

An adult fancy antler snail reaches about 0.8 in (2 cm).

Related species