Astraea turbo snail
Astraea tecta
Also known as Astrea Turbo Snail, Astraea Star Snail, Astraea Conehead Snail, Lithopoma tectum
SaltwaterSnail
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 1 in
- 2.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Turbinidae
- Origin
- Caribbean and Western Atlantic
Overview
The Astraea turbo snail is a peaceful, reef-safe algae grazer for marine tanks. It is easy to keep and a good first snail.
Caring for the Astraea turbo snail
Give Astraea turbo snails a well-established tank of at least 11 gal (40 L), with lots of live rock to graze. Stock about one snail per 8 to 12 liters. They are fine alone or in a group.
Keep the water stable at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. They are sensitive to high nitrate and copper. They do not handle sudden swings in water parameters, so a long drip acclimation is important.
The Astraea turbo snail is a herbivore that spends its time cleaning the rock and glass. It grazes hair algae, film algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms.
It never bothers corals or other livestock. It struggles to flip itself back over once it lands on its back, so it can starve on the sand bed. Keep an eye out for upside-down snails and turn them over.
Good to know
Astraea tecta, also sold as Lithopoma tectum, is a snail in the family Turbinidae. Its pyramid-shaped, olive-green shell often carries pointed projections. These give some snails a star-like or conehead outline.
In the wild
The Astraea turbo snail comes from Caribbean and Western Atlantic reefs, where it grazes the rock surfaces.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Astraea turbo snail is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Barber goby
Elacatinus figaro
Saltwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Neon goby
Elacatinus oceanops
Saltwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Harlequin shrimp
Hymenocera picta
Saltwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Percula clownfish
Amphiprion percula
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Peppermint shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
Saltwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Marine nerite snail
Nerita sp.
Saltwater1 in (2.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Astraea turbo snail need?
An Astraea turbo snail needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an Astraea turbo snail need?
An Astraea turbo snail is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does an Astraea turbo snail eat?
An Astraea turbo snail is a herbivore that cleans the rock and glass. It grazes hair algae, film algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms.
How big does an Astraea turbo snail get?
An adult Astraea turbo snail reaches about 1 in (2.5 cm).
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Mexican turbo snail
Turbo fluctuosus
2.4 in (6 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
- 1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Marine nerite snail
Nerita sp.
1 in (2.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Nassarius snail
Nassarius sp.
1 in (2.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Trochus snail
Trochus sp.
1.2 in (3 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Bumble bee snail
Engina mendicaria
0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)