Nerite Snail Lifespan

Checking my notebook -

I currently have 1 zebra and 2 red nerites bought 13 Jul 2011. I did have another zebra but returned it to the tank I'd treated for camallanus worms too soon 

I bought 2 bee nerites (the small black and yellow type) on 8 May 2008; one died in June 2011, the other on 7 Feb 2013.
A zebra nerite bought 29 Sept 2008 died 28 Aug 2012.


Your nerite that lived for 4 years probably died of old age if my records are anything to go by.


My next-to-nearest Maidenhead Aquatics now stocks nerites, everything from zebras and red ones down to bee nerites and some rather interesting mottled grey ones. I bought a couple of the grey ones in December, so I don't know yet how big they grow.

I've been toying with the idea of a couple of snails and/or shrimp for when the tank is more mature.  Do the snails attempt to get out?

I have had nerites for several years and only one pair have ever attempted to leave my tanks. For some reason, for a few months after I got them the red nerites in the 50 litre tank would climb out at night. I had to be very careful crossing the kitchen to draw the curtains in the morning. I plugged the cut-outs for cables in the lid with filter wool and that stopped them. I stopped using it after a few months and they haven't climbed out since then.


Apple snails, on the other hand, are well known for leaving a tank. They lay eggs above the water line so climbing up the tank wall is natural for them and they can go too far and fall out.