Polished nerite (Nerita polita) care guide

Group
Snails
Other names
Nerite snail, Kupe'e, Nerita (Linnerita) polita, Nerita bidens
Family
Neritidae
Origin
Tropical Indo-Pacific, mainly intertidal on sandy and rocky shores
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
4 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12, SG 1.023–1.025
Minimum tank
40 litres
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
yes
Lifespan
2–4 years

Care

The polished nerite is a marine nerite up to about 4 cm with a smooth, highly polished shell. Colour varies from mottled grey, red or cream, sometimes with thin or wide bands or a chevron pattern of white and grey. In Hawaii it is called kupeʻe. It lives mainly in the intertidal zone of the tropical Indo-Pacific, burrowing into sand at the base of rocks and coming out at low tide to feed. Set-up: a mature reef or fish-only tank of 40 litres or more with live rock. As an intertidal snail it often climbs out of the water, so a tight lid is needed. It rarely knocks over rock or corals thanks to its rounded shell. LiveAquaria gives 22–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, dKH 8–12 and SG 1.023–1.025, plus adequate calcium for the shell. Clean-up crew: it grazes film algae, diatoms and cyanobacteria from rock and glass, according to LiveAquaria's nerite care sheet. It is a useful glass cleaner but does not tackle hair algae well. Once algae runs out, feed dried seaweed or it will starve. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never treat a tank holding them with copper, check the label of any fertiliser or medicine, and keep nets and buckets used for copper-treated tanks separate. LiveAquaria notes nerites are harmed by copper-based medicines and do not tolerate high nitrate. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/nerite-snail); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neritapolita). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A herbivore. It grazes film algae, diatoms and cyanobacteria from rock, glass and sand. Offer dried nori on a clip or algae wafers when natural algae runs low.

Breeding

There is no visible way to tell males from females. In the wild it comes out at low tide to breed. Nerites often lay small white egg capsules on rock and glass, but the larvae are planktonic and do not survive in home aquariums.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and reef safe. It may be eaten by hermit crabs, larger crabs, wrasses, triggers and puffers. Fine with all corals and peaceful invertebrates.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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