Strawberry Conch (Conomurex luhuanus)

The Strawberry Conch (Conomurex luhuanus) is a small, hardworking marine snail and one of the best sand-bed cleaners you can add to a reef. It plows through the substrate all day, grazing algae, diatoms, and detritus while keeping the sand turned and bright. Peaceful, reef-safe, and full of personality, it is a favorite member of any saltwater cleanup crew.

Round out your cleanup crew from our saltwater invertebrates and the rest of our marine livestock.

Care Guide

• Give it a sand bed. The strawberry conch needs an established aquarium with a sand substrate to burrow and forage. It is not suited to bare-bottom tanks.
• Reef-safe cleaner. It will not bother corals or other inverts. It simply works the sand, eating algae, leftover food, and detritus.
• Tank size: A 20 to 30 gallon (or larger) established marine system with a mature sand bed gives it room to graze.
• Water parameters: Temperature 72 to 78°F, salinity 1.023 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4. Like all inverts, it is sensitive to copper-based medications and sudden swings, so acclimate slowly.
• Feeding: Mostly self-sufficient in an established tank. In very clean systems, supplement with sinking pellets, algae, or leftover meaty foods so it always has something to graze.

Specifications

Compatibility

Strawberry conchs are peaceful and reef-safe, and they pair perfectly with the rest of a balanced cleanup crew. Combine sand-bed grazers with rock and glass cleaners for a tank that stays spotless. Great teammates include:

• Nassarius Snails, fellow sand-bed workers
• Cerith Snails and Trochus Snails for rock and glass
• Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
• Peaceful reef fish such as clownfish, gobies, and firefish

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the strawberry conch reef safe?
Yes. It grazes the sand and will not harm corals or other invertebrates. It is purely beneficial in a reef tank.

Do I need a sand bed?
Yes. This conch burrows and forages in sand, so it needs a sand substrate. It will struggle in a bare-bottom tank.

What does it eat?
Algae, diatoms, detritus, and leftover food on the sand. In a very clean tank, offer sinking pellets or algae so it always has a food source.

Will it harm my other inverts?
No. It is peaceful and focuses entirely on cleaning the substrate, making it a great addition alongside snails, shrimp, and crabs.