Astraea Snail

The Astraea snail, also known as the West Indian Starsnail or Astraea Turbo Snail, is a small, peaceful, herbivorous sea snail that is a popular choice for saltwater aquariums: 

·       Appearance

The Astraea snail has a pyramid-shaped shell with spiral ridges and a rough texture.The shell can be light tan to dark brown, and sometimes has reddish or greenish hues from algae growth. Some individuals have projections on their shell that give it a star-like outline. 

·       Diet

The Astraea snail is a voracious algae eater that also consumes diatoms, leftover fish food, and some species of cyanobacteria. 

·       Behavior

The Astraea snail is peaceful and reef safe, and won't nip corals or other inverts. It prefers tanks with plenty of live rock to hide and forage for algae. 

·       Care

The Astraea snail is easy to care for and requires minimal care. It prefers water conditions of 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, and sg 1.023-1.025. The minimum tank size is 10 gallons. 

·       Habitat

The Astraea snail is native to the Atlantic ocean and is primarily found in the shallow coastal waters of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the western Atlantic Ocean. 

·       Breeding

The Astraea snail will often spontaneously breed in captivity, especially in a mature tank with stable water parameters.