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Red Racer Snail (Vittina waigiensis): Tank Mates, Feeding & Care Tips

A Colourful Helper for Your Aquarium

If you’re looking for a striking yet practical addition to your aquarium, the Red Racer Snail (Vittina waigiensis) might just be your new favourite critter. With their vibrant red-and-black racing stripes and easy-going nature, these snails aren’t just eye-catching—they’re also hardworking tank cleaners.


Reda racer snail Individual colouring

Why Choose a Red Racer Snail?

Red Racer Snails are becoming increasingly popular in the aquatics hobby thanks to their unique look and ability to help keep aquariums clean. Unlike some other snails, they won’t overpopulate your tank or damage your plants, making them an ideal choice for both beginner and seasoned aquarists.






Care and Water Requirements

One of the best things about the Red Racer Snail is how easy it is to care for:

  • Tank Size: Suitable for tanks as small as 10 gallons.

  • Water Parameters: pH between 7.0–8.0; moderate hardness.

  • Temperature: Thrives in 24–28°C.

  • Water Quality: They prefer clean, well-filtered water with a tight lid—these snails can climb and sometimes explore outside the tank!



Food Requirements

Red Racer Snails are natural algae grazers, making them excellent tank helpers. They’ll happily munch on algae growing on glass, rocks, and decorations. However, supplementing their diet ensures they stay healthy:

  • Algae wafers

  • Blanched vegetables (courgette, spinach, cucumber)

  • Calcium-rich foods to maintain a strong shell


Buy snail fool in store and online


Suitable Tank Mates

Red Racer Snails are peaceful and get along with most community fish and invertebrates. Good companions include:

  • Tetras, rasboras, and guppies

  • Peaceful shrimp species

  • Other snails (non-aggressive varieties)

Avoid housing them with aggressive or snail-eating species such as loaches or certain cichlids.

Algae eating snail
Benefits & Considerations

✅ Benefits:

  • Attractive and unique appearance

  • Great algae control

  • Peaceful temperament

  • Won’t overbreed in freshwater

⚠️ Things to Consider:

  • Require stable, clean water

  • Sensitive to copper-based medications

  • Can escape tanks without secure lids





Advanced: Sexing and Breeding

Unlike some common aquarium snails, Red Racer Snails cannot easily be bred in freshwater aquariums. Here’s why:

  • Sexing: Red Racer Snails are male or female, but visually telling them apart is extremely difficult without close anatomical inspection. For hobbyists, it’s practically impossible to sex them reliably.

  • Breeding: These snails require brackish water conditions for their eggs to hatch and develop successfully. In a standard freshwater tank, they may lay eggs on hard surfaces (glass, rocks, décor), but these will not hatch.

  • Practical takeaway: For aquarists, this means you won’t face an unexpected snail population boom—one of their biggest selling points compared to other species.



Final Thoughts

The Red Racer Snail (Vittina waigiensis) is a low-maintenance, visually striking addition to any aquarium. Whether you’re new to the hobby or an experienced aquarist, this snail offers beauty, function, and personality—without the worry of overbreeding.


Check out all the snails we currently have available online and in store.

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