Vittina waigiensis
Vittina waigiensis is an extremely rare snail that is also one of the most (if not the most) beautiful snails in the world.
The Red Racer Nerite snail (Vittina waigiensis) is an extraordinarily beautiful snail species found in Philippine waters. It is one of the rarest snail species in the world and one of the lucky ones.
The Vittina waigiensis snail has a very variable shell appearance, but many varieties of its shell patterns are among the most beautiful among ornamental freshwater or marine snails. The shell patterns are so varied that it is almost impossible to photograph them all. The snails reach a size of up to 3 cm in diameter.
These snails live in freshwater and brackish water, but breed only in brackish water. Vittina waigiensis is an effective algae fighter and will thrive in an aquarium suffering from an algae infestation. The Red Racer Nerite is generally quite hardy, but requires stable water parameters. If the snails are introduced into an immature aquarium in which biological equilibrium has not yet been established, they may die. The minimum tank size for keeping these snails should be 15 liters.
They are peaceful snails, so keeping them in the same aquarium as other peace-loving inhabitants is not a problem.
Water parameters: temperature 22-28° C, hardness dH 2-12°, pH 6,5-8,0. The snails will have a slightly longer life span with an alkaline pH. In a more acidic environment, the snail shell is susceptible to erosion. Adding calcium to the water is highly recommended in order to achieve a beautiful snail shell.
Food with a high Spirulina or other plant components content should dominate the snail's menu. Various fresh vegetables, which need to be sliced beforehand, are also tolerated. Various medicinal products and plant fertilizers containing copper, or more often copper sulphate, which is very toxic for invertebrates, should be avoided. Always check the ingredient list for any products you will put in the aquarium to make sure they do not contain copper.
Reproduction
Snail larvae require brackish or sea water to survive, so Vittina waigiensis does not breed under aquarium conditions. It is also unknown whether these snails are bred commercially.
The Vittina waigiensis has a life span of approximately 4 years, which makes it a long-lived snail in comparison to other snail species.
