Trochus Snail
Trochus Snail (Trochus sp.)
Available for local pickup only
The Trochus Snail is a reef-safe workhorse loved by hobbyists for its algae-eating abilities, peaceful nature, and self-righting behavior (unlike many other snails). With a sturdy conical shell often marked with spiral stripes or speckling, it’s an attractive and highly functional addition to any cleanup crew.
Key Care Information
✅ Size: Grows up to 1–1.5 inches in shell length
✅ Temperament: Peaceful — does not bother corals, fish, or other inverts
✅ Reef Safe: 100% reef safe — won’t touch coral tissue, polyps, or fish
✅ Diet: Herbivore — grazes on film algae, diatoms, and detritus. Will also accept algae wafers and pellet foods when natural sources are low
✅ Behavior: Active mostly at night or in shaded areas. Can right itself if flipped over, making it more resilient than other snails like Astraea or Margarita
Trochus Snail
Available for local pickup only
Common Names:
Trochus Snail
Banded Trochus
Top Shell Snail
📌 Identification
Trochus Snails are prized reef-safe herbivores known for their cone-shaped, spiraled shells with natural banded patterns of brown, cream, and grey. Their shell design blends beautifully into rockwork while offering excellent camouflage. They’re also one of the few reef snails capable of flipping themselves over if toppled.
Size:
Grows up to 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) in diameter.
Behavior & Role in a Reef Tank
Temperament: Completely peaceful and non-aggressive.
Habitat: Active during both day and night. You’ll often find them cleaning glass, rockwork, and substrate.
Diet: Strictly herbivorous — grazes on algae films, diatoms, and detritus. They’re excellent at controlling nuisance algae, including green film algae and early stages of hair algae.
⚠️ Compatibility & Caution
✔️ 100% reef safe — won’t harm any corals, fish, or inverts.
❗ Can fall prey to predatory crabs, some wrasses, or pufferfish.
❗ May be sensitive to rapid salinity changes — always drip acclimate slowly.
✅ Care Level
Difficulty: Very easy — ideal for beginners and seasoned reefers.
Water Conditions: Stable reef parameters — Temp: 72–78 °F, SG: 1.024–1.026, pH: 8.1–8.4
Diet: Algae-based — supplement with algae wafers or nori if natural algae is scarce in the tank.
Tank Mates
✔️ Safe with all peaceful reef inhabitants — corals, fish, shrimp, and other snails.
❌ Avoid with aggressive predators or large crabs that might knock them off the glass or prey on them.
Fun Fact
Trochus Snails are one of the few algae-eating snails that can right themselves if flipped over — unlike many other snails, which often die if stuck upside-down. This self-righting behavior makes them a top choice for clean-up crews in reef tanks!