Cleanup Crew

Trochus spp.; Trochus radiatus reference

A practical grazer; buy a confirmed tropical aquarium species.

Quick ID

Conical top-shaped shell, often with red-brown bands. Several species are sold as “trochus”.

Typical adult size

Common aquarium species about 2–4 cm shell width; larger top shells also exist.

Useful work

Grazes diatoms, biofilm and short algae on glass and rock.

Feeding & care

Provide established grazing surfaces; offer algae-based food if natural growth becomes scarce.

Best fit

A core glass-and-rock grazer, including smaller reefs.

Watch out for

Long hair algae and established pests may be ignored. Many can right themselves, but trapped animals still need help.

Tectus fenestratus

A rock-and-glass grazer with a pointed shell.

Quick ID

Tall, ribbed conical shell with brown or chestnut patterning. Also sold under assorted “turbo” names.

Typical adult size

About 3–5 cm shell height; supplier size descriptions vary.

Useful work

Consumes surface algae films and diatoms on hard surfaces.

Feeding & care

Maintain a mature algae supply; supplement with suitable algae foods and right stranded animals.

Best fit

Rock-heavy reefs needing additional film grazing.

Watch out for

Can struggle if wedged upside down, and may move very small unsecured frags.

Lithopoma tectum; formerly Astraea tecta

Good film grazer; check overturned animals.

Quick ID

Low conical shell with raised ridges; rough or star-like outline. Other species share the shop name.

Typical adult size

About 2–4 cm shell width for commonly sold forms.

Useful work

Grazes diatoms and algae films on glass and rock.

Feeding & care

Place on a stable surface, check regularly and provide algae-based food when grazing runs low.

Best fit

Rock and glass; less convenient where snails repeatedly fall onto broad sand beds.

Watch out for

Often struggles to recover on flat sand after falling. Do not leave an overturned snail exposed.

Turbo spp.; T. fluctuosus shell reference

Strong grazer; shell size and temperature suitability depend on species.

Quick ID

Rounded turban-shaped shell and broad muscular foot. “Turbo” is a trade label used for several genera.

Typical adult size

Often 3–7 cm shell width; some species grow considerably larger.

Useful work

Grazes algae films and short filamentous growth on hard surfaces.

Feeding & care

Fix frags firmly, keep sufficient algae and supplement herbivore foods if accepted.

Best fit

Established reefs with secure rockwork and room for a larger grazer.

Watch out for

Can bulldoze frags. Some traded turbos come from cooler habitats; ask for species and collection origin.

Cerithium spp.; C. litteratum reference

A useful small grazer for rock and the upper sand surface.

Quick ID

Long pointed shell with knobbly spiral ridges; often most active after dark.

Typical adult size

Common aquarium species about 2–4 cm shell length; dwarf forms are smaller.

Useful work

Consumes algae films, diatoms and organic particles; works sand margins and crevices.

Feeding & care

Provide fine sand and mature grazing surfaces; add small suitable foods if natural feeding is inadequate.

Best fit

Mixed reefs with sand, rock and tight spaces.

Watch out for

Hermits may take its shell. Buried daytime resting does not automatically mean it is dead.

Phrontis vibex; sold as Nassarius vibex

A leftover-food scavenger, not an algae eater.

Quick ID

Small sculptured shell; a long siphon protrudes from the sand as the animal detects food.

Typical adult size

Usually about 1–2 cm shell length.

Useful work

Finds meaty food scraps and carrion; moves the upper sand as it emerges.

Feeding & care

Provide sand to burrow in and small meaty marine foods when leftovers are insufficient.

Best fit

Fed sand-bed reefs where uneaten food occasionally reaches the substrate.

Watch out for

Cannot live on algae. Large “Tonga nassarius” are different species; avoid unidentified predatory look-alikes.

Conomurex luhuanus; formerly Strombus luhuanus

A sand-surface grazer that needs enough open, productive substrate.

Quick ID

Stout patterned shell, long feeding proboscis and eyes on stalks; moves with a hopping action.

Typical adult size

Around 5–8 cm shell length; larger species are sold under similar names.

Useful work

Grazes diatoms, films and organic material on the upper sand surface.

Feeding & care

Provide open fine sand and supplementary algae-based food if accepted; monitor body condition.

Best fit

Mature sand-bed reefs with ample uncovered grazing area.

Watch out for

May starve in a new or spotless tank. Not a glass cleaner and not a deep-sand replacement.

Stomatella spp.

Useful reproducing grazer; commonly shared by reefkeepers.

Quick ID

Slug-like body with a small flattened ear-shaped shell; moves quickly for a snail.

Typical adult size

Often 1–3 cm overall; species vary.

Useful work

Grazes fine algae and biofilm over rock, especially at night.

Feeding & care

Keep mature rock and protected crevices; usually thrives on natural films when predators are limited.

Best fit

Established reefs; often acquired from a trusted hobbyist rather than a retail cleanup pack.

Watch out for

Wrasses, shrimp and crabs may eat them. Avoid pulling an attached animal by its body.

Engina mendicaria

A carnivore rather than a general algae cleaner.

Quick ID

Small sturdy shell with alternating dark and pale/yellow bands.

Typical adult size

Usually around 1–2 cm shell length.

Useful work

Scavenges meaty particles and may prey on small invertebrates.

Feeding & care

Offer small meaty marine foods; never rely on algae to sustain it.

Best fit

A deliberate specialist addition where its predatory diet is acceptable.

Watch out for

Can eat useful worms or other small animals. Vermetid-control results are variable and not a reliable cure.

Monetaria moneta

A small algae grazer; confirm the species rather than buying an unidentified cowrie.

Quick ID

Small cream-to-yellowish cowrie with a glossy, somewhat angular shell. Its living mantle can cover the shell.

Typical adult size

Usually about 2–3 cm shell length; around 3.2 cm at the larger end.

Useful work

Grazes film algae and diatoms from rock and glass, with some short filamentous growth.

Feeding & care

Provide mature grazing surfaces and supplement dried seaweed or suitable algae foods if needed. Protect from snail-eating fish.

Best fit

Mature reefs needing a small nocturnal grazer; stock according to food supply.

Watch out for

Can starve when grazing runs low; check overturned animals. Larger cowrie species have different diets and reef risks.

Monetaria annulus

A useful small grazer; trade names often overlap with money cowries.

Quick ID

Smooth, oval glossy shell often marked by a yellow-orange ring. The mantle can hide the ring; colour alone is unreliable.

Typical adult size

Commonly about 2–3 cm shell length; some specimens grow larger.

Useful work

Grazes algae films, diatoms and some short filamentous growth, mostly after dark.

Feeding & care

Provide established rockwork, daytime shelter and algae foods when natural grazing becomes scarce.

Best fit

Mature community reefs with peaceful tankmates and enough grazing.

Watch out for

Do not apply its compatibility to every cowrie. Secure loose frags and monitor food supply and coral contact.