Banded Trochus Snail (Trochus sp.)
Species Name : Trochus sp.
Care Level : Easy
Temperament : Peaceful
Color : Red, White
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 : 1"
Origin : Indonesia, Nicaragua
Family : Trochidae
Supplements : Calcium, Trace Elements
Like other members of the Trochidae family, the Banded Trochus is easy to care for and very adept at working as your aquarium's cleanup crew.
The outer part of the shell is graced with long purplish or reddish bands. Its shape is that of a cone with a sharply pointed spire and flattened bottom, usually with eight to ten whorls. The shape and durability of the shell helps to protect the animal from its predators. Trochus Snails, unlike many other aquarium snail types, are able to right themselves if they fall, which also minimizes the risk of attacks by other animals. Its foot is black with a white or off-white underside. A smallish, thin operculum covers the opening when the snail is hiding within its shell.
One oft-cited benefit of these ravenous algae-eaters is their taste for common-but-undesirable aquarium nuisance algae. In some cases, they will also feed on leftover fish foods. Most importantly, they are particularly adept at grazing on algae that appear in the earlier stages of a system’s cycling and maturation period, namely films produced by diatoms and/or green algae that may blanket the rockwork and tank panels. They additionally will (unlike many other snails) consume cyanobacterial sheets.
The Banded Trochus Snail does best in a well-established aquarium with ample hiding places and room to forage. One to five individual trochus snails are recommended per gallon of system volume, depending upon factors such as degree of algal fouling and desired speed of clean-up.
Like other invertebrates, Trochus sp. is sensitive to high nitrate levels and intolerant of copper-based medications.
Once these hungry snails have completely decimated the algal films, their diet should be occasionally supplemented with an algae wafer or two dropped in during evening hours.