Astrea Snail
Astrea Snail
Astrea snails are relentless algae grazers, but they share a well-known blind spot with a lot of top-heavy reef snails — flip one onto its back and it often can’t right itself again, stranded until a keeper or a curious hermit crab intervenes. Worth knowing before you stock a bunch of them, but not enough of a downside to keep this species from being one of the most reliable algae eaters in the hobby.
Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: ~1" · Min tank: 10 gal · Reef safe: Yes · Diet: Herbivore, algae
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Lithopoma tectum
- Common name
- Astrea Snail
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Max size
- ~1"
- Minimum tank
- 10 gal
- Diet
- Herbivore, algae
- Reef safe
- Yes
When it ships
Most non-quarantined stock goes out the week you order. If we do not already have the animal in-house we source it first — allow up to two weeks for it to reach us. Live animals leave Monday and Tuesday, and Early AM Overnight is the only service that carries a live arrival guarantee.
The live guarantee
Shipped Early AM Overnight: a 1-hour DOA window from confirmed delivery, and nothing beyond it. Next Day Air and 2-Day carry no live arrival guarantee, and neither does USPS Priority. Local pickup or local delivery: 24 hours, if you bring a water sample from your aquarium and we test it before the animal goes home. Maintenance clients: 60 days when we service the aquarium at least twice a month, 28 days on a monthly plan.
Expert guidance
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Cameron draws on 25+ years in the hobby and a marine biology background to help you choose the right fit for your system.