Freshwater Snails
Green Urchin Snail
A spined Nerite with an olive to deep green shell studded with protruding spines, giving it a distinctly urchin-like silhouette. A hardworking algae grazer with a look unlike any other snail in the hobby.
Green Urchin Snails are a spined Nerite variant with an olive to deep green shell studded with protruding spines that give the snail a distinctly urchin-like silhouette. The green base colouration is more subdued and naturalistic than the bold banding of the Tricolor Horn or Zebra Nerite, letting the spine structure carry the visual interest instead. In a planted tank the green shell integrates with the surrounding plant colour while the spines catch the eye at close range, producing an effect that reads as naturalistic from a distance and genuinely unusual up close. Like all Nerites they are continuous, effective algae grazers that cannot breed in freshwater, keeping population permanently fixed. Small, low bioload, and completely safe with all shrimp. Spines are brittle and break easily, which is normal and harmless.
Appearance
Green Shell, Urchin Spines
Olive to deep green shell base with a naturalistic, subdued tone. Unlike the high-contrast banding of Zebra, Tiger, or Tricolor Nerites, the Green Urchin Snail has a relatively uniform green shell that reads as earthy and understated. This makes it particularly well-suited to naturalistic planted aquascapes where a boldly patterned snail would read as an accent element rather than part of the environment.
Protruding spines distributed across the shell giving an urchin-like profile. The spines are calcified extensions of the shell and are the species' defining structural feature. They vary in length and distribution between individuals. Like all spined Nerites the spines are brittle and break readily during normal activity or handling. Broken spines are harmless and do not regrow.
Small size with correspondingly low bioload. Green Urchin Snails stay compact, making them appropriate for nano tanks and adding minimal waste to a carefully managed shrimp setup.
Care
Grazing & Requirements
Continuous algae grazer across glass, hardscape, and plant surfaces. Consumes green film algae, brown diatom films, and biofilm thoroughly and continuously. Will not damage healthy plants or mosses.
Cannot breed in freshwater, so population is permanently fixed. White egg capsules may appear on hard surfaces but will not hatch without brackish water. No population management required.
pH 6.5 to 8.0, GH 6 to 12, temperature 70 to 80°F. Alkaline water protects the shell and spine structure. Acidic water causes progressive erosion of both. Standard Neocaridina parameters are ideal. Not recommended for low-pH Caridina setups.
Supplement feeding if stocked in numbers or in a low-algae tank. Algae wafers, spirulina discs, and blanched vegetables ensure adequate nutrition when natural algae is insufficient. Do not overstock relative to available algae.
Cover the tank. Nerites climb and will exit through any gap. Keep the water line well below the rim or use a fitted lid.
Fully safe with all shrimp and highly sensitive to copper. Compatible with all Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp. Avoid all copper-containing medications and fertilisers.
Keeper's NoteThe Green Urchin Snail is the choice for aquarists who want the visual novelty of a spined Nerite without the bold colour contrast that pulls attention away from the rest of the tank. The green shell disappears into a planted aquascape at viewing distance while the spine structure rewards close inspection. In a shrimp tank where the shrimp are meant to be the focus, this is the spined Nerite that contributes cleaning value and quiet interest without competing visually.
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