A hardy, top-shaped Indo-Pacific grazer widely regarded as one of the best reef cleanup snails — it eats diatoms, cyanobacteria, film and hair algae off glass and rock, and, unlike the flat-shelled astraea, can usually right itself if it falls. It also breeds readily enough in mature reefs to sometimes reproduce in the tank, a bonus for keepers.
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Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
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Conical 'top'-shaped shell about 2.5-6.5 cm (1-2.5 in); a medium-sized grazing snail.
Lifespan
2–4 years
Social needs
group
Native region
Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific (including northern Australia)
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
🌊 Marine
Family
Trochidae
Genus
Trochus
Part of the Marine Snails
Grazing and detritivore snails kept as reef-safe cleanup crew. Different species specialize in glass and rock algae, sand-bed detritus, or leftover food; stock to match available food, keep copper at zero, and acclimate slowly since snails are very sensitive to salinity shifts.
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Larva
Most marine invertebrates hatch into microscopic planktonic larvae (such as the zoea of crustaceans or the bipinnaria/veliger of echinoderms and mollusks) that drift and feed in the water column. The larva looks nothing like the adult and undergoes major reorganization.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
After settling out of the plankton, the juvenile takes on a recognizable miniature of the adult body plan — a tiny shell, a small star, or a translucent shrimp. Crustaceans grow by molting, shedding the exoskeleton to enlarge.
Photo coming soon
Adult
Adults reach full size and reproductive maturity with the species' mature shell, shape, or coloration. Many continue to molt or grow throughout life, and some show sex differences in size or claw/appendage shape.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Natural
Banded Trochus (typical)
The usual form: a conical top-shaped shell with spiral rows and longitudinal stripes or flames of brown, purplish, rose or coral-red over a pale ground, with a pearly interior. A natural species, not a bred strain.
Habitat & enclosure
Keep a group in an established reef or FOWLR tank of 10-20 gallons (38-75 L) or more with abundant algae-covered live rock and glass. Maintain stable tropical reef parameters: temperature 72-80F (22-27C), pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.024-1.026, alkalinity 8-11 dKH, calcium 400-450 ppm and low nitrate with zero ammonia/nitrite.
Trochus maculatus is widespread across the Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia, on shallow reef rock and flats. Any reef lighting and moderate flow suit it; provide plenty of hard grazing surface.
Substrate
A rock-and-glass grazer, so algae-covered live rock matters most; any sand or bare-bottom base works underneath. It handles open sand better than the astraea because it self-rights more reliably.
Equipment & setup
Standard marine equipment is enough: live-rock biofiltration, a heater, a protein skimmer and moderate flow. No special lighting is needed; keep calcium and alkalinity stable to protect the shell.
Diet
A reliable herbivore grazing diatoms, cyanobacteria, film algae and hair algae off rock and glass — a strong all-round surface cleaner. Supplement with dried seaweed (nori) on a clip in algae-poor tanks so it does not starve.
Behavior & temperament
Peaceful and fully reef-safe toward fish, corals and other inverts. Its advantage over the astraea is self-righting: the taller, rounder shell lets it flip itself back over far more often if it falls onto the sand. In mature systems it will sometimes spawn and even produce surviving juveniles, slowly building a small cleanup population. Stock several at once.
Health
Sensitive to copper, salinity and temperature swings and air exposure like all marine snails — never use copper meds, drip-acclimate slowly and never lift it into the air. Eroding shell tips point to low calcium/alkalinity; starvation is the main risk in spotless tanks. Hermit crabs may kill it for the shell, so supply spare shells. Remove any dead snail promptly to avoid fouling. (Educational only, not a substitute for advice from an aquatic veterinarian.)
Tips, DIY & hacks
Often recommended as the single best 'starter' cleanup snail because it grazes well and rights itself. Buy in groups, drip-acclimate slowly, never expose to air, and supply spare shells if hermits are present. Pair with a sand-sifting cerith or conch to cover the substrate it ignores.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — pre-launch draft (pending DVM review) on 2026-06-10