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Turbo Snails are excellent algae eaters of the saltwater aquarium. Usually quite a bit larger than the other species of snails commonly seen in marine aquariums, fewer will be needed to help keep up with the algae. Most will commonly stay on the glass and roam around looking for algae to devour. They will also move onto rocks if there is easy access for them and will help control the spread of hair algaes and tiny brown algaes. If plenty of food is available, and the water conditions are right, these snails will be around for years to come.

Cat's Eye Turbo Snails are more elaborately-colored cousins to the popular Mexican Turbo Snail. Cat's Eye Turbos have contrasting light and dark striped or mottled patterns on their shells. These snails are excellent algae eaters and are ideal clean-up crew additions to marine community or reef aquariums.

Turbo Snail One of the most popular algae grazing snails, this reef-safe gastropod is quite a bit larger than other algae snails. Great for controlling nuisance algae as well. Shaped like a turban or a top, the Turbo Snail needs sufficient calcium levels to help build its shell. As with many other invertebrates, the Turbo Snail is extremely sensitive to changes in water quality. The Turbo Snail will not tolerate copper, nor will it survive in conditions with high nitrate levels. Drip acclimation is highly recommended when introducing this species to its new home.

Chestnut snails are hardy snails from the turbo family. They have appetites for cyanobacteria, diatoms and other algaes. The thick, rough shells of these snails are uniform turban shape and marbled orange-brown and white in color. If algae is scarce, algae sheets may supplemant their diet.

This Trochus species is not often offered in the trade, but is popular for the red and white pattern of its shell. Like other Trochus sp., they eat various algaes and are safe for reef environments.

Trochus Snails are adequate substitutes for Turbo snails in marine aquariums. They are herbivores, devouring cyanobacteria, diatoms and filamentous algaes. They have wide, conical shells which are often encrusted in coralline algaes. Trochus snails are often not able to flip themselves over if they are turned upside-down in an aquarium. If you noticed your Trochus snails are upside-down, and are not near rockwork that can help them flip, you can turn them over to prevent them from starving or becoming prey to tankmates.

Tiger cowrie snails are admired for their smooth, elaborate, dome-shaped shells. They are avid grazers, spending most of their time browsing rock surfaces for vegetation. Cowries are interesting additions to a reef but may topple insecure rock and coral structures.

Burrowing Conch snails are excellent sand sifters and detritivores. They will normally bury themselves in the substrate and travel around in the gravel or sand searching for food, aerating the substrate in the process. Used most commonly in reef aquariums, they may also be used in fish only tanks as long as no fish are present that may try to devour them, such as wrasses or triggers. If flipped over in thier shell, they try to flip themselves over and can be quite comical to watch. If the hobbyist notices that they can not turn themselves over, upright them as they will starve if unable to feed.

Queen conchs are excellent sandsifters for the home aquarium. They will burrow in the substrate to clean and aerate as they search for food. They feed on algae, as well as leftover food and detritus. Wild specimens can grow to over 1 foot in length, but they usually stay much smaller in the home aquarium.

The Fighting Conch is a good sand-sifting snail for larger aquariums. They will bury their bodies in the substrate or crawl along the top of it, sometimes using their foot to hop across the aquarium. While these snails can reach close to ten inches in the wild, they rarely grow over four inches in the aquarium. Despite the aggressive name, they are algae and detritus eaters and are harmless to other animals.

The Reef Cowrie is a good addition to an aquarium that needs algae control. Cowries will graze almost every type of algae and do well in tanks with a lot of rockwork. Caution should be taken when purchasing a cowry because as they get larger, they may begin feeding upon sponges and soft corals.

The Reef Cowrie is a good addition to an aquarium that needs algae control. Cowries will graze almost every type of algae and do well in tanks with a lot of rockwork. Caution should be taken when purchasing a cowry because as they get larger, they may begin feeding upon sponges and soft corals.