Though interesting to observe in your home aquarium, the Spiny Star Astraea Snail serves a greater function of cleaning algae-covered live rock. It is very adept at keeping your aquarium clean. In fact, this small herbivore prefers to feed on nuisance hair algae, as well as cyanobacteria and diatoms. Some aquarists also report that the Spiny Star Astraea Snail actually consumes the entire hair algae structure, which helps prevent immediate further algae growth.

The Spiny Star Astraea prefers established aquariums with ample hiding places and sufficient room to roam. In addition to eating algae off of your live rock, this member of the Astraeinae family will also clean your aquarium glass. However, the Spiny Star Astraea Snail is not known to be a climber like other smaller-shelled snail species. Care needs to be taken to observe the daily activities of this hungry snail since it has difficulty righting itself if it falls or is knocked upside down.

Like other invertebrates, the Spiny Star Astraea Snail is sensitive to high nitrate levels and will not tolerate copper-based medications. The Spiny Star Astraea Snail requires a gradual acclimation period, preferably the drip acclimation method (often over two hours), since it cannot tolerate even minute changes in water parameters. If sufficient food levels are not present, supplement the diet with blanched spinach or lettuce and vegetable-based tablet foods.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 1"

Christian L
Ypsilanti, MI

Fun snail to have in your aquarium. Except for making sure they don't get upside down, they are like any other easy to keep snail. They grow fast and spiral "upward" in layers. If anything, they are the subject of conversation for people that observe your aquarium. I have a trigger fish, angel fish, hermit crabs, and none of them bother this snail.