Marbled limpet nerite
Septaria porcellana
FreshwaterBrackishSnail
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Adult size
- 1.2 in
- 3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 5 gal
- 20 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Neritidae
- Origin
- Southeast Asia
Overview
The marbled limpet nerite is a peaceful, slow-moving algae grazer for a freshwater or brackish tank with some current. It is a good first nerite and easy to keep.
Did you know
The flat shell of the marbled limpet nerite is built for sticking to rock in moving water. It presses down with a broad, muscular foot, and its low profile sheds drag.
Caring for the marbled limpet nerite
A marbled limpet nerite is solitary, and a tank of 5 gal (20 L) is enough for one. Give it plenty of hard surfaces to work over, good water movement and oxygen-rich water.
Keep it warm, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Slightly hard water suits it, and it tolerates a little salinity. It spends its time on rocks and glass, eating a film of algae, biofilm and diatoms.
The marbled limpet nerite is peaceful and safe in a community tank. It can clamp down so tight that prying it loose may hurt it, so let it move on its own. It will not breed in plain freshwater, because its larvae need brackish or marine conditions to develop. The population stays put, and breeding it is hard.
Good to know
Septaria porcellana is a nerite in the family Neritidae. Most nerites have rounded shells, but this one has a flat, cap-shaped shell, like a limpet.
In the wild
Marbled limpet nerites come from fast, clear freshwater streams and the lower reaches of rivers in Southeast Asia. There they cling to rocks in the current.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The marbled limpet nerite 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Micro bumblebee goby
Brachygobius nunus
FreshwaterBrackish1 in (2.5 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Ember tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 9 gal (35 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Clown killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 7 gal (27 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a marbled limpet nerite need?
A marbled limpet nerite needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a marbled limpet nerite need?
A marbled limpet nerite is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.
What does a marbled limpet nerite eat?
A marbled limpet nerite eats a film of algae, biofilm and diatoms off rocks and glass.
How big does a marbled limpet nerite get?
An adult marbled limpet nerite reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).
Related species
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Neritina juttingae
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