Trochus snail care

Quick reference

What are trochus snails?

Several top snails are sold as trochus. LiveAquaria's banded trochus is a Trochus species; ORA's captive-bred trochus, from its Marshall Islands mariculture farm, is Rochia nilotica.^{[1, 3]} Bulk Reef Supply says they're native to the Indo-Pacific.^[2] ORA says they graze algae from glass, rock and substrate.^[3]

Feeding

LiveAquaria says it feeds on algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms on rock, sand and glass, and is an effective film algae eater, but only grazes hair algae passively.^[1] In an established tank Bulk Reef Supply says they need little to no supplemental feeding.^[2]

Aggression and spacing

Peaceful.^[1]

Tankmates

Reef safe with soft, LPS and SPS corals.^{[3, 2]} Avoid pufferfish, and ORA warns hermit crabs may attack them for their shells.^{[3, 2]} LiveAquaria says they're intolerant of copper-based medications.^[1]

Disease and quarantine

Unlike many snails, trochus can flip themselves back over if knocked upside down, which ORA says makes them less likely to be eaten by scavengers while stranded.^{[3, 2, 1]}

Breeding

They reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water.^[1] Bulk Reef Supply says a spawn can briefly cloud the water but is harmless and often a sign of a healthy tank, and ORA says small snails may appear over time in a stable aquarium.^{[2, 3]}

Troubleshooting

Common mistakes

• •Buying them to clear hair algae.^[1]
• •Treating the display with copper.^[1]
• •Keeping them with pufferfish.^{[3, 2]}

Equipment & food for this species

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Inverts need stable salinity — use a refractometer, not a hydrometer.

Trochus snail FAQ

Can trochus snails flip themselves over?

Yes, which LiveAquaria, Bulk Reef Supply and ORA all point out as an advantage over many other snails.^{[1, 2, 3]}

Do trochus snails eat hair algae?

Only passively; LiveAquaria says they're film algae, diatom and cyanobacteria grazers.^[1]

Do trochus snails breed in aquariums?

Yes: they spawn by releasing gametes, and ORA says babies may appear in a stable tank.^{[1, 3, 2]}

Are trochus snails reef safe?

Yes, with all coral types.^{[3, 2]}

How big do trochus snails get?

LiveAquaria and ORA list about 1 inch.^{[1, 3]}