Batman snail (bat snail) - Neritpteron taitense

The peculiarly shaped shell of Neritpteron taitense looks a bit like the silhouette of a bat or the Batman sign when viewed from above, which has earned it the name Batman Snail. The case color is a uniform dark brown. The Batman snail belongs to the family of Neritidae or mermaid snails. Its shell, which remains very flat, grows to about 2 cm long and 1.5 cm wide and has wing-like broadenings on both sides at the back. They act like a spoiler - the animals live in nature in Southeast Asia in fast flowing water in rivers up to brackish areas.

The water values should be for the Batman snail as follows: the pH between 6,5 and 8, the GH up to 20 and a KH over 3. Cool temperatures do not like the Batman snail, from 24 to 30 °C are ideal.

The Batman snail is separately sexual. The sexes are difficult to distinguish. After mating, female Batman snails lay their yellowish to whitish egg cocoons on hard substrate. From these egg cocoons hatch a large number of so-called veliger larvae. These tiny larvae require saltwater or brackish water to grow. In nature, the current washes the veliger larvae into the sea, where they develop into snails. After metamorphosis, the baby snails crawl back into the rivers. In the aquarium, the females of the Batman snail also lay egg cocoons on hard surfaces such as wood, stones, glass, and also the shells of conspecifics. The larvae that hatch in the aquarium do not grow large in freshwater. Reproduction in the aquarium is not possible. Also in the laboratory these snails have not yet been bred.

Neritina auriculata, like most mermaid snails, is an omnivore. It is highly specialized in its food intake and does not accept flake or granular food well. Growth, algae and biofilms are its main food, but it also eats green dried walnut leaves and dried Hokkaido pumpkin. The Batman snail does not eat plants. In freshly set up aquariums it can starve to death, because not enough biofilms have been formed there yet.

It may happen that Batman snails are stressed by transport. To give them a little boost after arrival, we recommend feeding them our special Natureholic snail food for nursery-eating snails for the first few days, in addition to dried green walnut leaves.

Neritina auriculata is not as assertive as other snails, so it should not be socialized with hectic fish or very pushy shrimp in the early days. Plenty of growth and well-developed biofilms also make the transition to aquarium life easier for her. It is ideal as a co-stock in a current tank, for example with fan shrimp. Once they have acclimated to their new conditions, they are quite long-lived and can live for several years.

Batman snails leave the water from time to time, so the aquarium must be covered.

Our food recommendation: With the Natureholic Snail Feed Power Paste you create a feeding lawn that is very well accepted by all aufwuchs feeding snails. Also delicate wild-caught snails such as racing snails or staghorn snails, which are stressed after transport and do not go to conventional food, can be fed up well with it.

Our plant recommendation: Use for the planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.

Actively prevent outbreaks: With the invisible Natureholic Snail Barrier you prevent the escape and loss of your snails from the aquarium.