Bleeding Tooth Nerite (Nerita peloronta) Care Guide
Nerita peloronta is a Caribbean intertidal nerite named for the red 'tooth' on its aperture, kept in marine tanks as an algae grazer.
Overview
Nerita peloronta is a marine gastropod in the family Neritidae, described by Linnaeus in 1758. Its common name, the bleeding tooth nerite, derives from a red area beside the tooth-like columellar edge that resembles bleeding. It is grazed algae in marine aquaria.
Taxonomy
- Family: Neritidae
- Genus: Nerita
- Scientific name: Nerita peloronta
- Authority: Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
The species occurs in the West Indies, west Florida, Bermuda and the wider Caribbean. It lives in intertidal splash zones on rocky shorelines exposed to regular wave action.
Description
The thick, short-spired shell reaches about 5 cm with slightly raised spiral ridges. Its base colour is yellow, reddish or creamy with darker streaks or zigzags. The operculum is dark red with a granulated inner surface, and the distinctive red colour next to the columellar teeth gives the species its name.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
- Lifespan: 2-5 years
Diet
As a nerite it is a herbivorous grazer, feeding continuously on film algae and biofilm on rock and glass. Supplemental algae help maintain it in tanks with limited natural growth.
Compatibility
The bleeding tooth nerite is peaceful and reef-safe, compatible with most reef fish and corals. Triggerfish and pufferfish should be avoided as they prey on snails.
Breeding
Like other nerites, it reproduces via a planktonic larval stage requiring saltwater, so home-aquarium breeding is impractical.