TankBud

Trochus snail

Trochus sp.

Also known as Banded Trochus Snail, Turban Snail, Trochus histrio

SaltwaterSnail

Trochus snail (Trochus sp.)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Trochidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific

Overview

The Trochus snail is a peaceful, reef-safe grazer that keeps nuisance algae in check. It is easy to keep and a good first snail for a marine tank.

Did you know

Unlike its close relative the Astraea, a knocked-over Trochus snail can usually right itself. That means it rarely starves upside down on the sand.

Caring for the Trochus snail

Give Trochus snails a mature tank of at least 11 gal (40 L), with plenty of live rock to forage over. Stock roughly one snail per 8 to 12 liters. They are fine alone or in a group.

Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4, and keep the quality high. Like most marine snails, they are sensitive to high nitrate and will not tolerate copper-based medications. Drip acclimate them slowly.

Trochus snails are strictly herbivorous. They graze film algae, diatoms and cyanobacteria off the rock and glass, day and night. If the tank is very clean, make sure there is enough algae, or supplement with dried seaweed.

They pose no threat to corals, fish or other invertebrates. Their tall shells make them harder for hermit crabs to evict than flatter snails. Some hobbyists report them breeding in the tank, releasing gametes into the water column, though raising the larvae to settlement is difficult.

Good to know

The Trochus snail belongs to a genus of top snails in the family Trochidae. Its shell has a distinctive pyramid or top shape, often pale gray with maroon banding.

In the wild

Trochus snails come from rocky reef flats and hard substrate across the Indo-Pacific.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Trochus 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Trochus snail need?

A Trochus snail needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Trochus snail need?

A Trochus snail is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a Trochus snail eat?

A Trochus snail is a strict herbivore that grazes film algae, diatoms and cyanobacteria off the rock and glass. In a very clean tank, supplement it with dried seaweed.

How big does a Trochus snail get?

An adult Trochus snail reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does a Trochus snail breed?

Some hobbyists report Trochus snails breeding in the tank by releasing gametes into the water column. Raising the larvae to settlement is difficult.

Related species