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Little Shop of Coral

Spurred Turban Snail (Astralium calcar)

Spurred Turban Snail (Astralium calcar)

$10.00 CAD
$10.00 CAD
Sale Sold out
Size

The Spurred Turban Snail is a tough, hardworking algae grazer with a distinctive spiked shell. It is great for cleaning rockwork and glass, especially film algae and early nuisance growth. The heavier shell and “spurs” give it a unique look, but also mean it can be a bit of a bulldozer, so secure frags and loose rockwork.

Why we love it

  • Excellent algae grazer for rockwork and glass

  • Unique spurred shell that looks great up close

  • Hardy clean-up crew option for established reef tanks

Suggested parameters

  • Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)

  • Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG

  • pH: 8.1–8.4

  • Alkalinity: 8–10 dKH

  • Ammonia/Nitrite: 0

  • Nitrate: Under 20 ppm (stable is best)

Care and placement

  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Placement: Rockwork and glass (will roam)

  • Reef safe: Yes

  • Tank maturity: Best in established tanks with visible algae and biofilm

Feeding

Spurred Turban Snails primarily eat film algae and some softer nuisance algae. In very clean systems, you may need to supplement.

  • Offer dried seaweed (nori) occasionally if algae is limited

  • Algae wafers can be used sparingly

  • Avoid overfeeding, extra food can spike nutrients quickly

Compatibility

  • Peaceful with fish, corals, and most inverts

  • Avoid predators like some wrasses, triggers, puffers, and large crabs that may pick at snails

  • Secure frags and loose rocks, these snails can knock things over while grazing

  • If it flips upside down, help it right itself when possible

What you are buying

  • You will receive: 1 Spurred Turban Snail (Astralium calcar)

  • Size and shell shape can vary between individuals

As with all inverts, slow acclimation is recommended, especially for salinity and temperature.

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LIGHT

LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.

MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height. 

HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.

FLOW

LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.

MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.

HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.

SKILL

ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.

While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.

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