Astraea Turbo Snail

The Astraea Turbo Snail (Astraea tecta) — sometimes sold as the Astrea Snail, Star Snail, or Pyramid Turbo — is one of the most efficient and reef-aquarium-friendly algae grazers available to saltwater hobbyists. Its compact, cone-shaped shell features a distinctive pyramid silhouette with small spike-like projections along the spiral ridge, giving it a sculptural appearance that's as attractive as it is functional. Native to the Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic, this hardworking little snail is a staple of nearly every well-balanced reef clean-up crew.

Astraea Turbos specialize in grazing film algae, diatoms, and short hair algae directly off live rock and glass — they are particularly effective at keeping vertical surfaces and tight crevices clean where larger snails can't reach. Their relatively small size (1 to 1.5 inches) and active grazing pattern make them ideal for tanks of all sizes, from nano reefs to large display systems. They are 100% reef safe and will not bother corals, clams, or any other inverts.

One quirk to be aware of: Astraea Turbos are notoriously bad at righting themselves if they fall off the rockwork onto the substrate. A snail stuck upside-down can quickly perish without help, so a quick scan of the sand bed during routine maintenance is good practice — gently flip any overturned specimens back onto their foot. They prefer established systems with mature live rock and a healthy algae supply, and a stocking rate of roughly one snail per 2 to 4 gallons works well for most reef tanks. Calcium and alkalinity should be maintained at reef levels to support healthy shell growth.

At Ocean To You, every invertebrate is acclimated and observed before sale.