Nassarius Snail

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 1"
• Diet: Herbivore   • 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: Black, Brown, Green
• Origin: Widespread coastal areas • Family: Nassariidae   • Species: Snails

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The Nassarius snail is a small scavenger with an oval spiral shell that resembles an olive pit, with a long tube-like siphon protruding from the front of its shell. It spends its time buried in soft substrate (sand or very finely crushed material) in with it uses its long tube-like siphon to detect food.

Nassarius snails are one of the most ideal scavengers and detritus eaters for the reef aquarium, as they not only consume a wide variety of detritus, decaying fish food and organic matter, but they also do an excellent job of air aerating the substrate. They spend the majority of their time buried within the substrate, which helps maintain proper oxygen levels in the substrate which in turn keeps dead spots from forming.

The Nassarius Snail should be kept in an established aquarium with live rock and a deep substrate bed, preferably sand or a sand mix. Established aquariums will provide a ready source of food for the Nassarius snail as there will be detritus or organic material already in the substrate so that the Nassarius snail will have a ready source of food upon being added to the aquarium.

A soft substrate bed; such as sand, is important for housing this species as it spends the majority of its time buried in the substrate. Nassarius snails are sensitive to high nitrate levels and copper-based medications, which may preclude them from being kept in a community fish aquarium as fish-only aquariums tend to have higher nitrate levels than reef aquariums.

Nassarius Snails are excellent scavengers and will readily consume detritus, uneaten food, fish waste and decaying organic material that has found its way to the aquarium substrate. Since this species sifts through the substrate of the aquarium looking for food, it is best suited for an established reef or community fish aquarium, so that a ready food source is available.