Astraea Snail

The Astraea Turbo Snail, Astraea tecta, boasts an attractive olive green shell, setting it apart from many other bottom-dwelling marine creatures. Its subdued coloration helps it blend seamlessly with sandy ocean floors. This snail is also referred to as the Astraea Star Snail or Astraea Conehead Snail, owing to certain individuals having shell projections that resemble a star.

In home aquariums, the Astraea Turbo Snail is not only fascinating to observe but serves a crucial role in cleaning algae from live rock. It is particularly adept at consuming various types of algae, including cyanobacteria, diatoms, and hair algae. Some aquarists note that this snail can effectively remove entire structures of hair algae, thus impeding further algae proliferation.

The Astraea Turbo Snail thrives in well-established aquariums that provide ample hiding places and space to roam. As a member of the Astraeinae family, it not only cleans algae from live rock but also from aquarium glass. However, unlike other smaller-shelled snails, it is not known for climbing. Care should be taken with this snail, as it can have difficulty righting itself if flipped over, necessitating regular monitoring.

Like many invertebrates, the Astraea Turbo Snail is sensitive to high nitrate levels and cannot tolerate copper-based medications. It is also sensitive to even minor changes in water parameters, requiring gradual acclimation, ideally through a drip method over several hours. If natural food sources are insufficient, its diet can be supplemented with blanched spinach, lettuce, or vegetable-based tablet foods.