King Koopa Snail (Neritina Juttingae)

King Koopa Snail (Neritina juttingae) — The Boss of the Planted Aquarium

The King Koopa Snail (Neritina juttingae) is a bold and distinctive nerite snail named for its striking, heavily textured shell — a rugged, ridged surface in deep olive, brown, and black tones that gives it an armoured, almost prehistoric appearance. Like all nerites, it is a powerhouse algae grazer that keeps aquarium surfaces spotlessly clean while remaining completely safe with plants and shrimp. Tough in looks, tireless in work, and impossible to miss — the King Koopa Snail is the boss of the cleanup crew.

Armoured, Bold, and Built to Clean

The King Koopa Snail’s heavily ridged, textured shell sets it apart from smoother nerite varieties, giving it a rugged, characterful appearance that adds visual interest to any aquascape. Its dark, earthy colouration blends naturally with driftwood, rocks, and substrate while its methodical grazing keeps every surface free of film algae, diatoms, and green spot algae. A single King Koopa Snail can cover a surprising amount of surface area in a single day.

Care Profile

• Scientific Name: Neritina juttingae
• Origin: Southeast Asia — brackish estuaries, rivers, and coastal streams
• Size: Up to 2–2.5 cm
• Temperament: Completely peaceful; safe with all fish, shrimp, and plants
• Diet: Algae grazer — feeds on film algae, green spot algae, diatoms, and biofilm on glass, rocks, and hardscape; does not eat healthy plant tissue
• Water Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 7.0–8.5 (requires hard, alkaline water to maintain shell integrity; avoid soft or acidic water)
• Tank Size: Suitable for any size aquarium from 20L upward
• Breeding: Will not breed in freshwater — larvae require brackish or marine conditions to develop, making population control effortless
• Note: Ensure the aquarium has a secure lid — nerite snails are known escape artists and may attempt to leave the water

Aquascape Compatibility

The King Koopa Snail is fully plant-safe and an ideal companion for shrimp — Neocaridina, Caridina, and Amano shrimp all coexist peacefully with nerites. It thrives in planted aquariums, hardscape-focused aquascapes, and community tanks alike, working methodically across every surface to keep algae in check. A practical, characterful, and low-maintenance addition to any freshwater setup.

Armoured, relentless, and impossible to ignore — the King Koopa Snail is the boss-level algae grazer your planted aquarium has been waiting for.