Are Fighting Conchs Good for Reef Aquariums?

The fighting conch (Strombus alatus), is a good addition to a reef aquarium and will help aerate the sand bed and eat detritus and leftover food. Male fighting conchs are aggressive to one another but are peaceful with other tank mates and will not harm corals. They can be kept in smaller reef aquariums (nano reefs) but will need food supplementation.

  1. Sand Stirring

    • Deep sand beds are important natural filtration systems for reef aquariums. Generally, a deep sand bed is around 4 to 5 inches in depth and can be in the display aquarium or in an external sump. The anaerobic bacteria in the sand bed will help remove nitrates from the water, aiding in the health of corals. However, there is some debate about the buildup of toxins in a deep sand bed, and some aquarists recommend stirring the sand every so often. The fighting conch is an animal that will help stir the sand and should help these chemicals from building up to dangerous levels.

    Detritus Clean Up

    • Detritus builds up on the sand of the aquarium from regular feeding. Typically the water flow across the surface of the sand is not as great as the flow in the middle regions of the aquarium. If it were, the sand would blow up into the water column. This allows excess food particles to sit on the sand bed. Left alone, the food will rot and contribute to excess nitrates in the aquarium, which can poison corals and invertebrates. Like other snails, the fighting conch eats the detritus on the sand and helps prevent nitrate buildup in the water system.

    Caring for the Fighting Conch

    • If you are adding the fighting conch to a reef aquarium, the care requirements for the snail should already be met by the water parameters in your aquarium. Fighting conchs do not tolerate nitrates well so keep the nitrate level in your aquarium at undetectable levels, which is also recommended for corals. Like other snails and invertebrates, copper will kill them. Never add copper-based medications to the water when keeping the fighting conch.

    Purchasing a Fighting Conch

    • Fighting conchs are usually shipped in from the Caribbean or Asia, but according to some sources they can be captive bred. By purchasing captive bred conchs, you are reducing pressure on the natural reefs for aquarium specimens. You can find them online and from local fish stores that carry saltwater and reef animals. Larger specimens (up to 4 inches) can be more, but you can expect to pay around $8 for a fighting conch.