Trochus 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: Tan, Brown, Grey, Red
• Origin: Indo-Pacific • Family: Trochidae   • Species: Snails

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The Trochus Snail is generally identified by its pyramid shaped shell, which is usually a pale tan or gray color with maroon stripes. Trochus Snails are also commonly referred to as the Banded Trochus Snail, Turban Shell, Turban Snail, or Top Shell within the aquarium hobby. The shell is often covered with algae since this species moves very slowly about the reef foraging for food, allowing the strong aquarium lighting to grow algae on the snails shell.

Depending on the exact species these snails may have either a black or an off white/tan foot. The Trochus Snail has no distinguishing characteristics to help differentiate male from female as they reproduce by releasing gametes into the water column, which appears as a white milky substance. This is an easy to care for snail species that is excellent for keeping a reef or community fish aquarium clean by eating unwanted algae and diatoms.

Trochus Snails do well in aquariums with ample hiding places and room to forage. Live rock is perfect for this species as it provides algae, cyanobacteria, and diatoms for food and plent of caves and crevices. The Trochus Snail is a desirable tank cleaner because it will consume algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms and also is an effective film algae eater, grazing on other surfaces, such as the sides of the tank.

There are no specific lighting or water movement requirements for this species, but it is sensitive to high levels of copper-based medications and will not tolerate high nitrate levels.

The Trochus Snail receives the bulk of its nutrition from foraging on algae and diatoms growing on the substrate, reef or aquarium glass. If insufficient food is present in the aquarium, their diet can be supplemented with dried seaweed or marine algae tablets.