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Marine   Invertebrates

Astraea turbo snail
(Lithopoma tectum)

Lithopoma tectum

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

None (Yet!)

Names

Scientific name
Lithopoma tectum
Astraea texta
Astralium imbricata

Common name
Astraea turbo snail
Astraea Snail
West indian starsnail
Astraea Conehead Snail

Origin

what are its countries of origin?

Origin: Indo-Pacific and Red Sea
Natural habitat: seagrass beds and on the reefs, up to 10m (33 feet) in depth

Dimorphism

what are the physical differences between males and females?

None

Group

Group

Turbinidae

Volume

what is the minimum volume for this species?

50 L / 11 Imp Gal / 13 US Gal

Parameters

what are the water parameters for the maintenance of this fish?

T°: 22 to 28°C (72 to 82°F)
pH: 7.5 to 8.5
Density: 1022 to 1028

Difficulty

Difficulty

Easy

Size

what is the maximum size of this fish?

4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8")

Longevity

what is the average life expectancy of this fish?

up to 40 years

Living zone

in which area of the aquarium does this fish live?

Everwhere

Individuals

sociability of the species

1

Food

How to feed the Astraea turbo snail?

Food

How to feed the Astraea turbo snail?

astraea tecta alimentation

Excellent algae eater, this crustacean feeds alone in the aquarium: algae mats, biofilm, diatoms, cyanobacteria, food remains, plant debris... It will be very useful to help you maintain your aquarium!

If your tank does not have enough algae, you can supplement the food with salad, boiled spinach, dried Nori (wrap it around a stone and put it in the aquarium) or vegetarian tablets.

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Palette Astraea turbo snail have?

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Astraea turbo snail have?

Perfectly harmless, these crustaceans wander on windows and rocks, grazing on the algae carpet. It is especially active at night.

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Astraea turbo snail?

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Astraea turbo snail?

Beware because the Asters are the natural prey of Hermit Crabs and some fish such as wrasses for example. Also pay attention to other species that graze on algae, which could lead to strong food competition.

Breeding

How to breed the Astraea turbo snail?

Breeding

How to breed the Astraea turbo snail?

Very easy to obtain, the breeding of this invertebrate is external. The Asteroids release gametes in full water. After the laying, you will be able to observe small white dots on the glass: these are the eggs.

Note that reproduction in captivity is often triggered by a change of water.

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Astraea turbo snail?

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Astraea turbo snail?

These snails are not very demanding level volume since their maintenance can be envisaged as of 50 L / 11 Imp gal / 13 US gal. Count 20 additional liters for each additional snail (4 Imp gal or 5 Us  gal).

You can introduce them in a reef aquarium because this species does not attack corals. They move only on hard surfaces such as rocks (never on soft ground such as sand for example). So they will need rocks to move in the aquarium.

Regarding water parameters, ensure a good calcium level (390 to 450 mg/l) to ensure good growth. A magnesium rate of 1400 is effective to ensure that the shell is covered with coralline.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Very popular in marine aquariophily, this snail is a good ally to fight against algae, even if these often grow on their own shell!

If they turn over by accident, they can quickly die because they are unable to turn over. Attention thus at the time of the introduction in your aquarium: always put them in the good direction (shell upwards)!

Very robust (especially Florida specimens), they can be maintained by beginners in marine aquarium keeping.

Lithopoma tectum has a star-shaped crown of excrescences spiraling around the base of its shell. This characteristic is especially visible when the snail is young. These excrescences disappear as it ages and grows.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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