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
Origin: Indo-Pacific and Red Sea
Natural habitat: seagrass beds and on the reefs, up to 10m (33 feet) in depth
Dimorphism
None
Group
Turbinidae
Volume
50 L / 11 Imp Gal / 13 US Gal
Parameters
T°: 22 to 28°C (72 to 82°F)
pH: 7.5 to 8.5
Density: 1022 to 1028
Difficulty
Easy
Size
4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8")
Longevity
up to 40 years
Living zone
Everwhere
Individuals
1
Food
Food
How to feed the Astraea turbo snail?
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Yours photos!
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