Cerith Snail

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 2"
• Diet: Omnivore   • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks   • Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons
 • Reef Compatible: Yes   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: None   • Coloration: Varies
• Origin: Caribbean, Mexico • Family: Cerithiidae   • Species: Snails

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The Cerith snail is a small scavenger snail with an elongated spiral shell that is usually black with tiny white dots covering the entire shell. They are small in size only reaching about 1 inch in length, which makes them perfect for the reef aquarium as they can get into small areas without their shell rubbing up against and disturbing anything.

This species is extremely popular with "reef cleaner" packages as they are ideal scavengers, detritus eaters, and algae eaters consuming most any undesirable algae, cyanobacteria or decaying organics. Cerith Snails will often bury themselves in the sand, which will help maintain adequate oxygen levels in the substrate which eliminates dead spots from forming in the substrate. Overall an excellent aquarium cleaner that is peaceful and easy to keep.

The Cerith Snail prefers an established aquarium with live rock and a deep sand bed. Cerith Snails are overall very easy to keep, but they are sensitive to high nitrate levels and copper-based medications. Ideally a soft substrate should be present as this species will burrow as well as scavenge live rock and aquarium walls. Cerith Snails are extremely peaceful and will not harm other tank mates, which makes them ideal for reef aquariums. The Cerith Snail is extremely difficult to breed in captivity, thus there numbers will need to be replaced over time.

Cerith snails are one of the most ideal tank cleaners available as they will scavenge for detritus and algae. These snails are perfect for the reef aquarium, quickly devouring detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, fish waste, and several types of nuisance algae. Cerith Snails should be added to established reef aquariums or fish aquariums with live rock where they will consume both decaying meaty foods as well as most forms of algae and cyanobacteria.