Can a Trochus snail flip itself over?

Yes. Unlike Astrea snails, Trochus snails possess a strong muscular foot and a wide enough turning radius to quickly right themselves if they fall upside down on the substrate.

Will Trochus snails eat my corals?

No, they are strictly herbivorous and completely reef-safe. They will carefully clean algae off the rockwork around the base of corals without harming the coral tissue.

Why is my Trochus snail not moving?

Snails will sometimes rest in one spot for days, especially after a large meal. However, lack of movement can also indicate poor water quality, sudden swings in salinity, or that the snail has sadly perished.

Do I need to feed my Trochus snail?

In a mature reef tank with plenty of algae, they will find their own food. If your tank is very new or pristine, you should offer small pieces of dried seaweed (nori) attached to a rock to prevent them from starving.

Why did my tank water suddenly turn cloudy?

Trochus snails are broadcast spawners. If the conditions are right, a group of them may simultaneously release gametes into the water, causing a temporary white cloudiness that is harmless and usually cleared quickly by your skimmer.

MarineMarineBeginner

Trochus Snail

Trochus spp.

A highly sought-after, cone-shaped marine snail prized for its voracious appetite for nuisance algae and unique ability to right itself if overturned.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 26 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 14 – 21 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 5 – 7 cm
Nano reef: 30 litres+
Lifespan: 2 – 3 years
Diet: Herbivore
Water flow: Moderate to High
Preferred setup: Reef rockwork with sufficient surface area for grazing

About the Trochus Snail

The Trochus Snail is a staple of the marine clean-up crew. With its distinctive, steeply conical shell that often features intricate banding, it is as attractive as it is functional. Unlike many other popular marine snails such as the Astrea, the Trochus has the crucial ability to flip itself back over if it falls off the glass or rockwork, significantly reducing its mortality rate in the aquarium.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Trochus Snail comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific

Countries / regions

Indonesia, Fiji, Australia

Habitat

Coral reefs, rocky shorelines, and intertidal zones.

Widely distributed across shallow tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific.

Similar species

Astrea Snail
Lithopoma tectum
Turbo Snail
Turbo spp.
Tectus Snail
Tectus fenestratus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Common Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful reef fish that completely ignore invertebrates.
Great
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Excellent peaceful companion that shares the clean-up crew duties.
Great
Blue-legged Hermit Crab
Clibanarius tricolor
Hermit crabs may opportunistically attack snails for their shells, though Trochus are better at escaping than most.
Compatible with caution
Clown Triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
Triggerfish are equipped with strong jaws specifically designed to crush and eat hard-shelled invertebrates.
Not recommended
Dogface Puffer
Arothron nigropunctatus
Pufferfish will actively hunt and consume snails to wear down their continuously growing beak.
Not recommended

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