Ever wonder if your little Betta gets lonely every now and then? Especially because we’re reminded of how hostile they can be with a visitor. The name Siamese fighter fish had to come from somewhere after all!!
As territorial and macho as they can seem, they are an intelligent fish. Without sufficient interaction and stimulation, they can get bored and lethargic. It just so happens that there are quite a few compatible tank mates suitable for your pet Betta fish.
How about a pet snail for your pet Betta?!
The addition of a snail or two won't cause your Betta to go stir crazy and get aggressive. At most there may be an attempt to nibble, and this is fueled by curiosity over anything else! With that being said, Betta’s are like snowflakes and no two are the same. Their temperaments and personalities vary. If you’re unsure, simply add one to your tank and observe, if they seem incompatible you can intervene and remove the snail. Use your best judgment when it comes to adding tankmates with your Betta.
The BEST snail for your Betta!
When it comes to which companion we recommend for your Betta, it's got to be Nerites!
(1 ) Besides being an excellent algae cleaner, the Nerite will offer endless hours of entertainment for your curious Betta. The Nerite snail’s unique shell is able to cover its entire foot (the fleshy part of the snail). Offering it protection from your betta’s curious nibbles. While most other snails may suffer some damage from a Betta biting it, the likelihood of this happening to a Nerite snail is quite slim. Eventually your Betta will get bored of nibbling at the snail’s shell and move on to just observing its movements. Leaving the Nerite to move across the tank and the glass, scraping every inch of algae along the way!
(2) Unlike most other freshwater snails, the Nerite snail requires brackish conditions to reproduce. Which means, in the typical Betta aquarium, the possibility of a snail population exploding into an infestation is highly unlikely. The number you add will remain the same.
(3) They come in a variety of colors and sizes. Ranging from the Spotted Nerite, the Zebra Nerite and the Olive Nerite on the larger side to the Horned Nerite and the Bumblebee Nerite that remain on the smaller size.
Caring for your Nerite!
The Nerite snail needs the presence of natural diatom algae in your tank for it to feed on. Make sure not to add too many as they would starve and eventually die, once they have cleared the tank of algae. Even Snails need food!
We recommend a minimum of 15L tank space for each of the smaller Horned Nerite type and 30L for each of the larger Zebra or Olive Nerite type.
While the nerite snails are quite hardy and have fairly thick shells, it’s a good idea to ensure that your betta tank has sufficient minerals (like calcium) to help with the snail’s shell development.
If your Nerite snail hasn’t moved for 2-3 days. The best way to ensure that it’s alive is to pick it up and smell it. A live snail shouldn’t have any strong odor.