Banded Trochus Snails – Trochus sp

• Date Added: 11/25/2009
• Quantity: 6
• Status: Inactive 12/01/2012
• Purchased at: Coral Corral
• Cost: $2.00/ea
• Coloration: White/Gray, some with Red Banding
• Description: Trochus Snails, Trochus sp., are outstanding cleaners that are found on a number of reefs scattered throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The radula, or tongue, of the snail has a rasp like texture. When pulled across a surface, this rasp pulls the algae loose for a quick snack. They move very slowly but leave nothing behind, eating filamentous algae, slime algae, green algae, diatoms, and cyanbacteria. Add to this the fact that they often are able to right themselves if they fall on their backs. Pyramid shaped similar to an Astrea snail, they get about the size of a quarter when full grown, and are a perfect aquarium snail since they come from warmer waters. Extremely hardy, as long as water quality remains good they have a very long life. Many live from 5 to 7 years. No tank should be without some of these. Recommend 1 per 5 gallons.
• Notes: The shell of this animal is constantly growing. The fleshy mantle deposits the calcium based construction material on a continual basis. Maintaining proper calcium levels of 350 to 450 ppm will assist the growth of this animal. If algae becomes unavailable in the aquarium, supplement this animals diet with dried seaweed.