▷ Limpets in the aquarium | All information and details

Data sheet limpets

German name:
limpets

Scientific name:
Neritina pulligera Linnaeus, 1767

Origin:
Southeast Asia, West to South Africa

Size:
up to 3cm

Aquarium

Length:
50cm length / 30cm width

Contents:
From 60 liters

water values

Temperature:
22-28°C

pH:
6.0-8.0

GH:
> 3.0°dH

Behave

Area:
below

Lining:
Algae coatings, uneaten food, vegetable chips, granulated food, autumn leaves, snail food, powdered food

Behave:
peaceful calm – nocturnal

Number:
2 to 5 snails

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Neritina pulligera – anthracite limpet, steel helmet snail – Image 1 | © Fishtopia GmbH

The limpet (Neritina pulligera) is also among the denominations Anthracite limpet, algae slug, globe slug or steel helmet slug known.

Their range is clean rivers and coasts in South Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia, Okinawa and Taiwan. Thanks to her peaceful character and the great hunger for algae it looks great in the aquarium.

Neritina pulligera is an invertebrate. She forms a family of her own. This includes numerous species and genera.

The pretty animal got its name because of the special color and shape of the case. The color shows an expressive anthracite and the shape is shell-like and is reminiscent of a steel helmet. The housing is firmly developed and offers secure stability in the water. The rough surface structure is created by the fine and higher lying lines.

attitude

The limpet is a frugal and peaceful water dweller, which is very easy to keep in the aquarium. At the same time, she worries with her big appetite for seaweed for a clean pool. The keeping several animals is advisable. To ensure that everyone gets enough food, the number should be limited to a maximum of 5 specimens.

The optimal substrate is sand or aquarium gravel. The interior consists of stones, roots and wood. Plants are spared from the snails and numerous varieties can be used. Since the animals like to leave the water, the aquarium should be well covered to be on the safe side.

The species-appropriate habitat measures a minimum edge length of 50 cm. However, the pool size must be adapted to the number of residents. The feel-good temperatures are warm at 29 to 30°, the pH value at 6.5 to 8.5, the total hardness at 20°dH and the carbonate hardness at up to 14°dH. The conductance is 350 to 950 µS, whereby the snail species also tolerates harder water.

Tip for acclimating the limpets to the aquarium: After transport, carefully place the animals together with the water in an extra container. Then gradually add the aquarium water within about 30 minutes. Then place the animals carefully and quickly in the aquarium.

food

The varied and healthy food consists of plant-based food. Algae coatings and growth are particularly popular, and the snail also grazes brush algae and hard green algae from the pane. She also takes brown fall leaves, vegetable chips, granulated food, mulberry tree leaves, snail food, sea almond leaves and powdered food. She also gets used to leftover food and soft vegetables (cucumber and zucchini).

If the animal receives too little food, this can first be recognized by the stunted foot.

breed

The snail is according to most of its kind bisexual. That is why females and males are indistinguishable from the outside.

Pregnant females lay long, cream-colored eggs in sturdy sacs. The hatched so-called veliger larvae (a certain type of larvae of mollusks) develop into young snails in the current of the sea.

Reproduction takes place in brackish water, as the larvae find sufficient food there. One Propagation in aquaria is not possible to this day. As a rule, the wild-caught animals available from us come from the original distribution areas.

socialization

As an algae eater, the limpet is for one community tank the ideal roommate. It lives well with peaceful fish such as tetras, discus, cichlids, guinea fowl rasbora, as well as amano shrimp, mussels and other vegetarian snails.

With species-appropriate husbandry, the limpet can age of 8 years to reach.