One key difference between Nerite snails and Mystery snails is that Nerite snails are much more difficult to breed.
They require brakish water for the baby snails to hatch and fully develop. Mystery snails on the other breed very easily, and do well in freshwater.
What are the other differences between the Nerite snails and the Mystery Snails? Worry not, in this article we will break it down for you.
Let’s kick-off with a simple chart summarizing the key differences.
Nerite Snail Vs Mystery Snail (Detailed Analysis)
Physical Appearance
Nerites have thick, rounded shells, and come in various patterns and colors.[1] Mystery snails have smooth, rounded shells that are thin in structure.
Most nerite snails have striped shells with colors such as black, dark brown, tan, olive green, dark green, and reddish-brown.
Mystery snails, a subspecies of apple snails, come in bright colors such as pink, red, albino, chestnut, blue, jade, and even shades of burgundy and purple.
Size
Nerite snails grow up to 1 inch while mystery snails can grow up to 2-3 inches in size. Nerites normally stay pretty small and reach their full size in a year with a balanced diet.
Mystery snails grow much larger than the nerites. They are known to be one of the largest freshwater snails in the world.
If you keep them as pets do not be shocked at how big they can grow!
Breeding
Breeding Nerite snails is much more difficult compared to mystery snails. Nerite snail eggs must have brackish or full saltwater to develop properly and hatch.
You will need to provide aquariums with brackish water to breed nerites successfully. They tend to produce well when kept in an environment that is similar to their natural habitat.
Mystery snails breeding is easy as they require freshwater with the right temperature. They need temperatures of up to 78°F for breeding purposes.
You need both sexes to breed them successfully. Mystery snails need a highly nutritious diet with plenty of calcium to help them breed well.
They lay eggs above the waterline therefore one should lower the waterline to help them complete the breeding process with no hitches.
Habitat
Nerites thrive in marine brackish water. A very small number of nerites live in freshwater habitats. They require hard alkaline water to do well.
Mystery snails, on the other hand, are freshwater snails. They naturally live in freshwater sources such as swamps, ponds, rivers, and streams.
Tank size requirements
Nerite snails require at least a 5-gallon tank while mystery snails require at least a 10-gallon tank for them to thrive.
If you decide to add more nerites, increase the tank size as well. The more nerite snails you have, the more space these little critters need.
Since nerite snails breeding is difficult, they hardly reproduce in large numbers. Hence they just require a tank size according to the number of snails you have.
Mystery snails on the other hand are known to reproduce fast. They also tend to grow big hence need enough space to move about.
Mystery snails need sand, gravel, or pebbles to make it easy for them to move around. Ensure the tank has plenty of live plants.
Diet
Nerites are herbivores by nature. They enjoy a diet of phytoplankton such as algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and vegetable bits.
Mystery snails, however, are omnivorous by nature. They are optimistic scavengers that enjoy a wide range of food. They are not choosy eaters. In the wild, they eat decaying plants, dead fish, dead shrimp, or shellfish. As pets, they can eat plant matter but also enjoy food leftovers.
Cost of keeping as a pet
Nerite snails are cheaper to keep as pets as compared to mystery snails. Nerites hardly reproduce as they need specific water requirements to breed. They feed on algae that is readily available and cheap. They are famous for cleaning their tanks as they eat up all the algae.
On the other hand, mystery snails tend to grow faster and larger. This means one has to keep changing their tank sizes as they are growing. Mystery snails also reproduce in large numbers and at a faster rate. If kept as pets, one has to provide for them a variety of food for them to grow healthy. Since they are not picky eaters, they need a varied diet.
Care requirements
Mystery snails are easy to keep due to their fun personality. They just need a freshwater environment with plenty of food and you are guaranteed to get happy, healthy snails. Mystery snails can eat about anything hence require varied diets.
Nerite snails, however, need special care requirements especially when breeding. One must also know about their nerite species. There are some that can thrive in freshwater and others thrive in brackish water.
This is important because, if you keep a nerite snail that is used to brackish water in freshwater they will not survive.
Remember also that nerites only breed properly in brackish water.
Summary Table: Nerite Snails Vs Mystery Snail
| Nerite Snails | Mystery Snails | |
|---|---|---|
| Physical appearance | Species dependent- have a huge variety of patterns and colors some with stripes on their shells | Have smooth, rounded, and thin shells with light to dark olive green colors. Are mostly bright colored |
| Size | Up to 1 inch (0.5 – 1inch) | 2-3 inches |
| Habitat | Freshwater and brackish water | Freshwater |
| Diet | Herbivore- algae eaters | Omnivores |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years | Up to 1 year |
| Minimum Tank size | 5 gallons | 10 gallons |
| Tank set up | Freshwater with a lot of vegetation | Moderate vegetation, Adaptable |
| Breeding | Difficult | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful and solitary | Bubbly with fun personalities |
Conclusion
Snails make amazing pets with their calm nature. Both nerites and mystery snails have amazing qualities that make them unique and lovable.
