Snail: Astrea

These snails will consume film and hair algae on the glass and rocks in your aquarium. These Astraea spp. are sometimes called "Turbo snails" or "Astreas" in the hobby, but should not be confused with larger turbos. These snails will consume film, some cyano species, and some of the finer hair algae on the glass and rocks in your aquarium. They are not the hardiest of creatures, because they cannot right themselves if turned upside down. They should be placed carefully into your aquarium. If you notice one got flipped over, you should act as quickly as possible to right them.

Size and Lifespan

Growing to an average length of around 1 inch in the aquarium. With the proper care, their lifespan can be between 5-10 years!

Tank Size and Requirements

Astrea Snails can go into any sized tank. Astraea snails thrive in a well-established reef tank with a lot of live rock and a sandy substrate

Diet

Astrea snails primarily feed on various types of algae, including diatoms, cyano, and hair algae, making them a valuable part of a saltwater aquarium's cleanup crew. They also consume film algae and occasionally shorter hair algae. In aquariums with limited algae, their diet can be supplemented with blanched vegetables or dried seaweed.