Astrea Snail

Care Summary

Astrea Snails are a staple of reef cleanup crews, with a conical, heavily ridged shell and a strong appetite for film algae, diatoms, and green slime algae on glass and rockwork. They are reef-safe, easy-going with other tank inhabitants, and work well in tanks from 20 gallons up, making them a go-to recommendation for new reef builds and established systems alike. The one practical limitation is that Astrea Snails cannot right themselves if they fall upside-down onto a flat surface, and they will die if left inverted for too long, so check them periodically and flip any you find on their backs. They graze continuously in tanks with adequate algae growth and rarely need supplemental feeding, though a sheet of dried nori now and then keeps them active if the tank is very clean.