Black Military Helmet Nerite Snail: Neritina pulligera
The largest commonly kept nerite, with a heavy dark shell shaped like a helmet. Its size lets it clear algae from glass faster than any other nerite.
Also known as: Military Helmet Snail · Black Helmet Snail · Neritina pulligera
Black Military Helmet Nerite Snail
The largest commonly kept nerite, with a heavy dark shell shaped like a helmet. Its size lets it clear algae from glass faster than any other nerite.
Natural Habitat & Origin
Fast-flowing freshwater streams and estuaries across the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Polynesia.
Care Requirements
Keep Black Military Helmet Nerite Snail at 22-28°C with a pH of 7.0-8.2. The largest nerite, so it wants a tank of 40 litres or more to graze properly. Hard alkaline water is essential given the shell mass it maintains.
Use the Aquarium Tracker to log these parameters against your own readings — it flags a drift before it becomes a problem.
Diet & Feeding
Clears algae faster than any other nerite simply through size. Will strip a tank clean, then needs supplementary feeding.
Behaviour & Temperament
Peaceful and powerful — strong enough to shift light décor while grazing. Less inclined to climb out than smaller nerites.
Tank Mates
Safe with peaceful community fish. Its size protects it from most fish that would eat a smaller snail.
Breeding
Requires brackish water for larval development, so it will not reproduce in a freshwater aquarium.
Choosing between nerite varieties
All nerites share the same care requirements, so the choice comes down to shell pattern and size. See the nerite snail comparison guide for the full range side by side.
Common Health Issues
Shell erosion in soft water, and copper sensitivity as with all invertebrates.
