Description
The Sowerby's clithon is a small nerite of about 2 cm, with a rounded shell and no horns or spines. It does the work of other nerites: it scrapes the algal film off glass, stones and tough leaves, and leaves healthy plants alone.
Its distinctive trait is its origin. It is a species of transitional waters, of lower rivers and river mouths, and copes poorly with sudden changes in hardness. It adapts to aquarium fresh water, but does better in mineralised, alkaline water and suffers in soft water.
Like the rest of the group, it does not complete its cycle in fresh water: it may stick egg capsules on hard surfaces, but the larvae do not thrive without brackish water and the population does not take off. A lid is advisable, because it climbs out of the water.
Habitat
It lives in the western Indo-Pacific: the lower parts of rivers, tide-influenced areas and river mouths, often on stones and roots. It has been recorded in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.
In the aquarium it needs rocks and wood with algae, stable water and good oxygenation.
🌊 Water parameters
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 22–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 22–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–28 °C.
Sources
- GBIFGBIF Secretariat (2026). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei. Consultado vía GBIF.org, 2026-08. Clithon sowerbianum.
Taxonomy verified as ACCEPTED unless stated otherwise.
The care values (pH, temperature and hardness) have no citable source: none of the accepted sources publishes invertebrate profiles. Seriously Fish has none and PlanetCatfish does not respond. A source for invertebrates is still to be agreed.