Queen Conch

Care Summary

The Queen Conch is an iconic, large-bodied gastropod from the Caribbean that is one of the most effective sandbed herbivores you can add to a reef system, consuming algae, diatoms, and detritus as it plows steadily through the substrate. It needs a deep, fine sandbed of at least 3 inches, a tank of 55 gallons or more, and strong, consistent flow to keep the sand oxygenated and the algae film growing for it to graze on. The challenge is its size, as adults can reach nearly a foot in length and need enough sandbed real estate to roam freely without constantly disturbing corals placed on the rockwork above. It doesn't need supplemental feeding in a mature tank with an established algae film, but in newer setups you can offer dried seaweed sheets or blanched nori laid flat on the sandbed to keep it nourished.