Why is my Turbo Snail not moving?

It may be resting, acclimating to new water parameters, or unfortunately suffering from starvation. Ensure your water chemistry is stable and that there is sufficient algae or supplemented seaweed available.

Do Turbo Snails need empty shells like hermit crabs?

No, they secrete calcium carbonate to grow their own shells continuously as their bodies increase in size.

Can a Turbo Snail right itself if it falls on its back?

While they can sometimes reach a nearby rock to pull themselves over, they often struggle on fine sand. It is best to manually flip them upright to prevent them from tiring out or becoming an easy meal for scavengers.

Will Turbo Snails eat my corals?

No, they are strictly herbivorous and completely reef safe. However, due to their size and strength, they may occasionally knock over small, unglued coral frags while grazing.

How many Turbo Snails should I keep per litre?

A general rule of thumb is one Turbo Snail per 15 to 20 litres, though this heavily depends on the amount of algae available in the tank to sustain them.

MarineMarineBeginner

Turbo Snail

Turbo spp.

The Turbo Snail is a highly efficient algae grazer and a staple, hardworking member of any marine cleanup crew.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 26 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 2 – 5 cm
Nano reef: 30 litres+
Lifespan: 1 – 3 years
Diet: Herbivore
Water flow: moderate
Preferred setup: Ample live rock and established biological filtration with algae growth.

About the Turbo Snail

Belonging to the family Turbinidae, Turbo Snails are renowned for their voracious appetites for nuisance algae. The aquarium trade name encompasses several species, most notably the Mexican Turbo Snail (Turbo fluctuosus) and the Chestnut Turbo Snail (Turbo castanea). They possess thick, top-shaped shells that provide excellent defence against minor predators. Due to their peaceful nature and hardiness, they are ubiquitous in the reef-keeping hobby.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Turbo Snail against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Turbo Snail comes from

Native range

Gulf of California, Caribbean Sea, Indo-Pacific

Countries / regions

Mexico, United States, Indonesia, Australia

Habitat

Rocky coastlines, tide pools, and shallow coral reefs with abundant macroalgae and strong currents.

The trade encompasses multiple species under the 'Turbo' banner, sourced from various global reef locations.

Similar species

Astrea Snail
Lithopoma tectum
Trochus Snail
Trochus spp.
Cerith Snail
Cerithium spp.

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

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful fish that completely ignore bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
Great
Zoanthids
Zoanthus spp.
Turbo snails are entirely reef safe and will graze around corals without consuming them.
Great
Blue-legged Hermit Crab
Clibanarius tricolor
Hermit crabs may occasionally kill snails to steal their shells if empty shells are not provided.
Compatible with caution
Dogface Puffer
Arothron nigropunctatus
Pufferfish possess strong beaks designed specifically to crush and eat hard-shelled invertebrates.
Not recommended
Clown Triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
Triggerfish are highly predatory towards snails and will easily shatter their shells.
Not recommended

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