What Kind of Snail Is in My Saltwater Aquarium?

Abalone

• Abalone snails are somewhat difficult to take care of. They have a flat, tear-shaped shell, with an iridescent interior. The outside of the shell may have housed tube worms, and will normally appear to have red and green algae growing. They are peaceful, nocturnal snails that feed on algae on the aquarium's rocks and rubble.

Astraea Conehead Snail

• The Astraea conehead snail is an easygoing, peaceful snail with a unique shell shape. Their shell is shaped like a spiraled pyramid with olive green and brown colors, which helps it to blend into a reeflike environment. This snail will dine on algae, diatoms and cyanobacteria. These snails require ample algae growth and plenty of hiding places. If this snail falls off a rock, it must be turned right side up as it is unable to right itself because of the shape of its shell.

Banded Trochus Snail

• The banded Trochus snails are peaceful snails and compatible in a reef aquarium. The shell has a pyramid shape and color bands of red, green and maroon, with an off-white to tan color body. They are considered part of the clean-up crew in any saltwater aquarium. You can keep one snail for every 3 gallons of water. Banded Trochus snails feed on algae and are nocturnal.

Bumble Bee Snail

• Bumble bee snails are the perfect name for this snail. They look just like a bumblebee. Their shell is black with yellow stripes, and their body is black. This snail is fairly small and will hide in small crevices. The bumble bee snail is a carnivore, and will consume uneaten food, dead fish and worms. They are peaceful snails, however they are very sensitive to water changes, nitrates and copper-based medications.

Cerith Snail

• Cerith snails are from the waters of Mexico. Their long spiral shell comes in a variety of colors. Cerith snails are scavengers and will eat up detritus, fish waste, uneaten food and algae. These snails will burrow in the sand and help to keep it turned over. They require a deep sand base and plenty of oxygen in the tank. These snails will do well in any reef aquarium and are primarily active at night.

Margarita Snail

• These snails are a favorite because they are hardy snails. They have a smooth round shell on which red algae likes to grow. They are herbivores and eat mainly algae. They can climb on any surface and do well in cooler water, but can live in tanks up to 78 degrees F. They are also very peaceful and leave corals and invertebrates alone.

Nerite Snail

• The Nerite snail is another snail with a round shell. Their shell can be black, green or tan and may be speckled or have very thin stripes. These snails come from the Pacific and the Caribbean oceans. The Nerite snail is a small snail and requires a lot of hiding space, cracks and crevice to forage in. This snail is also peaceful to other tank mates, including corals.

Super Tongan Nassarius Snail

• Nassarius snails are another aquarium favorite. Their shell is shaped in an oval spiral that resembles an olive pit. The color can be beige and off yellow. This snail is unique in its long tube siphon that protrudes from its shell. Their body is long, slender and white in color. These snails live in the sand bed and are mostly nocturnal. They feed on debris found in the substrate and will help to sift the sand bed. This snail will quickly emerge from its sand bed if it smells food in the tank.

Turbo Snail

• The turbo snail is another popular snail and a favorite for saltwater tanks. This snail also has a round shell shaped like a turban. This snail's shell is maroon, with an iridescent color to it. They graze on the tank's walls and rock work to consume algae growth. These snails will turn over rocks in the aquarium if they are not secure. They are also a very slow moving snail, and should not be kept with aggressive fish as they could become fish food.