Turbo Snail (Turbo Fluctuosa)

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Clear

Diet : Herbivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025

Max. Size : 2"

Origin : Mexico

Family : Turbinidae

Supplements : Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements

Turbo Snail (Turbo Fluctuosa) or Mexican Turbo Snail are one of the most popular saltwater aquarium snails in this hobby. Mostly kept as members of a clean up crew, they are highly valued by aquarists for the service they perform.

The Turbo Snail has a thick, domed, spiral shaped shell that consists of five rounded (with angled shoulder) whorls, and can grow to over 2 inches in size. The base is slightly convex with an oval operculum. Their eyes (detect motion and light) are located directly behind their two small tentacles. These snails have a variety of colors where the most popular colors are light brown, reddish-brown, greenish, or orange with whitish and dark brown mottling.

An excellent member of your aquarium's cleanup crew, the Turbo Snail thrives in crevices and holes in natural reefs.  In the home aquarium, the Turbo Snail needs ample hiding places and large spaces to graze. It is particularly fond of hair algae and will consume mass quantities of it and other algae off your live rock and aquarium glass. Some reef aquarists prefer to keep the Turbo Snail in aquariums with well-secured rockwork since this active herbivore is known to bulldoze loose rocks in search of food. It is recommended that you have one snail for every 5 gallons of tank water. 

The peaceful Turbo Snail should not be kept with aggressive tankmates that can quickly overcome this slow-moving creature. When attacked by aggressive fish or crabs, they simply hunker down inside their shell or bury themselves in the sand. Be advised these snails have a difficult time turning themselves over if they fall onto the back of their shells. It is a good idea to flip them over if you see them laying on their side to prevent them from dying.

Like other invertebrates, the Turbo Snails is very sensitive to copper-based medications and high nitrate levels.  Also, adequate calcium levels are required to help this member of the Turbinidae family build its protective shell. 

If algae levels are insufficient, supplement the diet of the Turbo Snail with dried seaweed.

Size: 3/4" to 2"