{"product_id":"cerith-snails-cerithium-spp-saltwater-cleanup-crew","title":"Cerith Snails (Cerithium spp.)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#FBE9E7;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCerith Snails (\u003cem\u003eCerithium\u003c\/em\u003e spp.) are one of the most efficient cleanup crew species for marine and reef aquariums. They climb glass and rockwork during the day to graze film algae and diatoms, and burrow into the sand at night to turn substrate and consume detritus. Drop a few of these in any new reef and watch nuisance algae and uneaten food vanish. Pair with our other \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock\u003c\/a\u003e for a complete cleanup crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReef safe, peaceful, and inexpensive to dose in groups. They are a top pick for nano reefs and a must-have in any sand-bed system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 gallons minimum. Larger systems benefit from groups.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStocking density:\u003c\/strong\u003e Roughly one Cerith per 1 to 2 gallons of display volume. A 30-gallon reef does well with 15 to 20 snails.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Detritivore and grazer. They eat film algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and uneaten food. No supplemental feeding needed in established tanks; add a small piece of dried algae sheet if film growth is low.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSand bed:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best with a sand substrate of 1 to 2 inches. They will work bare-bottom tanks for algae but won't show their sand-sifting behavior.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Will not bother corals, fish, or other inverts. They eat algae off coral plates without damaging tissue.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcclimation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow drip 30 to 45 minutes. Snails are sensitive to abrupt salinity and pH shifts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;width:38%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eCerithium\u003c\/em\u003e spp.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCerith Snail, Caribbean Cerith\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCerithiidae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eEasy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 4 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eDetritivore \/ algae grazer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMin tank size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e10 gallons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStocking\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1 per 1 to 2 gallons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e72 to 78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1.023 to 1.026 SG\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e8.1 to 8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCaribbean \/ Indo-Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eTank Mates \u0026amp; Compatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompatible with virtually all reef-safe fish and invertebrates. Pair with Nassarius snails (carnivore detritivores), Trochus or Astrea snails (algae specialists), and a few hermit crabs to round out a balanced cleanup crew. Avoid keeping with predatory hermits, large wrasses (some species pick at snails), pufferfish, and triggers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne caution: Cerith snails are slow and small. If your tank has a large or aggressive crab population, watch that they aren't being pulled out of their shells. Add empty shells if hermits are present so the hermits have alternatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003eMore saltwater livestock\u003c\/a\u003e — build the rest of the cleanup crew.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-mixes\"\u003eSalt mixes\u003c\/a\u003e — keep parameters stable; sudden salinity swings are the most common snail killer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/saltwater-refractometer-hard-case-atc-salinity-tester\"\u003eSaltwater refractometer\u003c\/a\u003e — verify SG before each acclimation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/brightwell-aquatics-calibration-standard-60ml\"\u003eBrightwell Calibration Standard\u003c\/a\u003e — keep your refractometer accurate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow many should I get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nAbout one per gallon for a nuisance algae problem, or one per two gallons for steady-state maintenance. Easier to add more later than to overshoot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they reproduce in my tank?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCerith snails often spawn in reef tanks (you'll see strings of eggs on the glass), but the larvae rarely survive the filtration. Treat any new snails you spot as a bonus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne is upside-down — help?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCerith snails can right themselves but it takes time. If you find one on its back for more than a few hours, gently flip it. A dead snail emits a foul smell and should be removed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo they eat hair algae or bubble algae?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSome film algae yes, but they do not meaningfully control hair algae or bubble algae. For those use Trochus snails, emerald crabs, or sea hares respectively.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48822414082267,"sku":"1570759","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/lg91080CerithSnail_600x600_fa4e4c7a-211e-40ee-a2d1-0a564482e83d.webp?v=1780151987","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/cerith-snails-cerithium-spp-saltwater-cleanup-crew","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}