Trochus Snail (Trochus maculatus)

Trochus snails are one of the most valuable and reliable members of any reef cleanup crew, and for good reason. These voracious herbivores consume a wide range of nuisance growth including film algae, diatoms, and some hair algae, playing a key role in nutrient control by eating algae before it can decay and fuel further problems. Their distinctive cone-shaped shell, banded in maroon, silver, and pale grey tones, adds genuine visual interest to the aquascape, but what makes them truly stand out as a cleanup crew choice is a combination of relentless grazing performance, genuine hardiness, and one unique advantage no other popular reef snail can claim: they can right themselves if knocked over, a significant advantage over many other snail species that require constant intervention when flipped.

Why we love them

• Tireless algae grazers that work rockwork, glass, and equipment surfaces around the clock
• Hardy and long-lived, often several years with good care, making them suitable for beginners and experienced reefers alike
• Self-righting ability means far less hands-in-the-tank intervention compared to turbo or astrea snails
• Known to spawn in aquarium environments, which is both fascinating to observe and a potential bonus for expanding your cleanup crew naturally
• Fully reef safe and compatible with corals of all types

Suggested parameters

• Temperature: 24 to 26°C (75 to 79°F)
• Salinity: 1.025 to 1.026 SG
• pH: 8.1 to 8.4
• Alkalinity: 8 to 10 dKH
• Calcium: 400 to 450 ppm (important for healthy shell growth)
• Magnesium: 1250 to 1400 ppm
• Nitrate: Under 20 ppm
• Phosphate: 0.03 to 0.12 ppm
• Copper-based medications are toxic to Trochus and all invertebrates and must never be used in a system housing them

Care

• Difficulty: Easy
• Reef safe: Yes, completely safe with all coral types and most ornamental invertebrates
• Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
• Trochus snails stick to hard surfaces, working rocks, glass, and overflow boxes; they typically avoid the sandbed and can be complemented nicely by cerith snails, which cover lower glass and substrate zones
• Maintaining proper calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels is important for healthy shell growth and long-term vitality
• A well-established system with a healthy existing algae crop is ideal; a new, sterile tank may not have enough natural food to support them

Feeding

Trochus snails are self-sufficient grazers in most established reef systems and require little to no supplemental feeding under normal conditions.

• Once snails have significantly reduced available algae, diet should occasionally be supplemented with an algae wafer or two dropped in during evening hours
• Nori sheets clipped to the glass or rockwork are also accepted
• They will also feed on leftover fish and shrimp food that drifts to lower surfaces

Stocking and compatibility

• One per five to ten gallons is a good starting density, adjusted based on degree of algal fouling and desired pace of cleanup
• Completely peaceful with fish, corals, and most ornamental invertebrates
• Be cautious of predators such as pufferfish, triggers, and large aggressive hermit crabs, which may target Trochus snails or attempt to steal their shells
• Larger individuals can accidentally dislodge frags and unsecured corals while moving through the aquascape; gluing frags and corals to the rockwork prevents incidents

Health and acclimation notes

Trochus snails are sensitive to rapid salinity and parameter shifts during acclimation. The acclimation process should be slow, close to 1.5 hours, roughly twice the time you would spend acclimating a fish. Drip acclimation is the recommended method. Healthy snails are active grazers with intact, unblemished shells; excellent water quality and stable calcium supplementation can support natural shell repair if minor damage is noted. Never use copper-based medications in any system housing snails or other invertebrates.

What you are buying

• You will receive: Trochus spp. cleanup crew snails
• Shell colour and banding can vary between individuals and species; the foot is characteristically black with a pale underside
• Quantity per order as listed

Drip acclimation is strongly recommended. Do not expose to copper-based medications or sudden parameter swings.