Pyramid Top Snail

Care at a glance

Overview

Add one or a few to a tank of 40 litres or more at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with mature rock and algae to graze. It eats diatoms, film algae, hair algae, and some cyanobacteria off hard surfaces and is completely reef safe. In a very clean tank it can run short of food, so offer dried algae if the rock looks bare.

In the wild

The pyramid top snail has a tall, cone-shaped shell with a flat base, often patched with algae that helps it blend into the rock. It is a tough, no-nonsense grazer that works the rock, glass, and sand for algae. The shell reaches around 5 cm at full size.

Good to know

Tectus fenestratus belongs to the top shell family Tegulidae and is closely related to the trochus snails sold for the same cleanup job. It grazes mostly at night and can usually right itself if it tips over, unlike many turbo snails.

Did you know

Unlike many turbo snails, which can die stranded on their backs, it can usually flip itself upright if it lands on its shell.

Related species

• 

  Mexican Turbo Snail

  Turbo fluctuosus

  2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Cerith Snail

  Cerithium sp.

  1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Tiger / Strawberry Conch

  Conomurex luhuanus

  2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Fighting Conch

  Strombus alatus

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Ring Cowrie

  Monetaria annulus

  1.2 in (3 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
• Trochus Snail

  Trochus sp.

  1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)