There are a number of Conch Snails that make great additions in any saltwater reef aquarium’s clean-up crew! They are some of the best algae eating and general cleaners around as well as being easy to keep, and just cool, fascinating animals.
Conchs will sift through your aquarium’s sandbed, keeping it turned over and clean. They are omnivores that will feed on leftover foods, detritus and algae (including some hard to be rid of types) that they can reach from the tank’s bottom. They will rarely travel up onto the glass or rocks in the tank.
There are several species of conch snails regularly available in the aquarium hobby. They grow to different sizes therefore the size of your aquarium should be taken into account when choosing the type of conch. If kept in a smaller aquarium or a tank with limited detritus and algae growth, supplemental feeding with dried seaweed, frozen food and/or pellet food will be required.
Conchs are considered reef-safe and are not know to bother corals of other inverts. Some larger hermit crabs may antagonize of kill conchs, looking for a bigger shell to call home.
Conchs have a solid shell and move around using a fleshy foot. They are quite strong and care should be taken that they cannot topple over any rock work. They have eyes on the ends of thin stalks that they can retract. Their mouth is on the end of a small trunk-like appendage which they use to dig around and reach for food.
As they are such good cleaners, hardy, peaceful and generally just fascinating, they are the perfect addition to most any reef aquarium.
