Red Banded Trochus Snails

Red Banded Trochus Snails (Trochus sp.) are one of the hardest-working cleanup crew snails for any reef tank. Their conical shells are wrapped in distinctive red banding, and they spend their day grazing film algae, diatoms, and cyanobacteria off glass, rock, and equipment. Trochus are reef safe, fully herbivorous, and unlike many snails, they can right themselves if knocked upside down. Pair them with our other reef cleanup crew to keep the system spotless.

Care Guide

• Care level: Beginner. Hardy and forgiving once acclimated to stable salinity and temperature.
• Tank size: 10 gallons or larger. Plan 1 snail per 5 to 10 gallons of established reef.
• Water: 72 to 78 F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity 1.023 to 1.025, dKH 8 to 12.
• Acclimation: Slow drip acclimate over 60 to 90 minutes. Snails are very sensitive to salinity swings.
• Diet: Film algae, diatoms, and cyanobacteria on rock and glass. Supplement with sinking algae wafers or nori if the tank runs out of algae.

Specifications

Compatibility

Great with: all reef fish, corals, anemones, shrimp, hermit crabs, and other reef-safe inverts. Plays well with Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp and other peaceful cleanup crew.

Caution with: aggressive hermit crabs (especially blue legs) that may attack the snail for its shell, and predatory wrasses or pufferfish that eat snails. Be careful with strong powerheads, snails can wander in front of an intake.

Recommended Pairings

• Mexican Red Leg Hermit Crab for substrate and bubble-algae cleanup.
• Emerald Crab for bubble algae control.
• Margarita Snails as additional algae grazers (cooler-water snail).
• Browse our full saltwater livestock collection for reef-safe fish, corals, and inverts.

FAQ

How many do I need?
Plan on 1 trochus per 5 to 10 gallons of established reef. Start on the lighter side and add more if you still see film algae build-up after a couple of weeks.

Will it eat coraline algae?
No. Trochus snails graze film and nuisance algae, not the coraline that gives reef rock its pink and purple color.

Why is my snail upside down?
Trochus can flip themselves back upright, which is one of their best traits as a reef snail. If a snail stays on its back for hours, gently right it and check that the water parameters are stable.

Does it reproduce?
Trochus can spawn in reef tanks. Most eggs and larvae are eaten by filter feeders and corals, but you may occasionally find tiny new snails growing in the rockwork.