Black Military Helmet Snail (Neritina pulligera)

Peaceful algae eater for planted and shrimp tanks

The Black Military Helmet Snail is a popular nerite snail known for its smooth, rounded shell with a low, helmet-like profile that looks almost polished. Shell color ranges from dark brown to deep black, sometimes with subtle olive tones and a hint of orange inside the shell opening. Reaching about 1 inch in size, this snail has a thick, sturdy shell and a clean, understated look. Hardy, peaceful, and constantly grazing, it’s prized for its algae-eating ability and is an excellent choice for planted aquariums, shrimp tanks, and calm community setups where you want natural cleanup without the risk of overpopulation.

How They Help Your Aquarium

These snails are among the most effective algae eaters in the hobby.

• Actively graze on glass, rocks, driftwood, and décor
• Excellent at cleaning green film algae and brown diatoms
• Help consume leftover food and biofilm
• Completely safe for live plants

Because they don’t reproduce in freshwater, you get reliable algae control without worrying about population explosions. They can leave little white eggs around your tank, but those won't hatch.

Care & Tank Requirements

Black Military Helmet Snails are hardy but thrive best in stable, established aquariums.

Tank Size

• Minimum: 5 gallons
• Ideal: 10 gallons or larger

Water Parameters

They prefer harder, alkaline water, similar to Neocaridina shrimp setups.

• Temperature: 72–82°F
• pH: 7.0–8.2
• GH: 6–15+
• KH: 4–15
• Nitrates: under 40 ppm

Adequate calcium and minerals are important for healthy shell growth. Hard water, mineral supplements, or calcium-rich foods help prevent shell erosion.

Setup Notes

• Provide rocks, wood, and plants for algae growth
• Good filtration and oxygenation are beneficial
• Use a lid—nerite snails are excellent climbers

Avoid copper-based medications and fertilizers.

Diet

Although they’re excellent algae grazers, supplementation is important in clean tanks.

They eat:

• Natural algae and biofilm
• Algae wafers and tabs
• Shrimp food
• Blanched vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and cucumber

Feed 2–3 times per week if algae is limited.

Breeding Information

Black Military Helmet Snails do not breed in freshwater aquariums.

• Adults may lay small white eggs on glass and décor
• Eggs will not hatch in freshwater
• Larvae require brackish water to develop

This makes them ideal for aquarists who want a no-overpopulation snail.

Compatibility

These snails are peaceful and shrimp-safe.

Good tankmates include:

• Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp
• Amano shrimp
• Otocinclus
• Corydoras
• Small, peaceful community fish

Avoid snail-eating species like loaches, crayfish, large cichlids, and goldfish.

Why Choose Black Military Helmet Snails?

• One of the best algae-eating snails available
• Safe for shrimp and planted tanks
• Hardy and beginner-friendly
• No freshwater reproduction
• Clean, understated appearance

If you’re looking for a reliable cleanup snail that thrives in harder water and won’t take over your tank, the Black Military Helmet Snail is a great choice.