Description

Captive Bred Banded Trochus Snail Like Turbo Snails (Trochus histero)

TankBred’s Captive Bred Banded Trochus Snail (Trochus histero). These great algae eaters are breeding in our main display tank here at TankBred! They are smaller (1-1.5cm) than you would see in the shops as they aren’t fully grown/old snails taken from the reefs. This can be a good thing as growing snails need more food to grow so can be more active.

A better alternative to the very similar turbo snail they are an excellent choice as a part of your clean up crew and will aggressively consume large amounts of nuisance algae.

The Banded Trochus Snail is prized by marine aquarists of all experience levels for numerous reasons. Like other members of the Trochidae family, they are easy to care for and very adept at working as your aquarium’s cleanup crew. The Banded Trochus Snail normally has a black foot that is an off white/tan color on the underside of the foot. It boasts a pale gray, top- or pyramid-shaped shell. Thanks to the maroon stripes or bands on its shell.

What many aquarists appreciate the most is the ease with which Banded Trochus Snails seem to breed in the home aquarium. It reproduces sexually by releasing gametes into the water column. The gametes appear as a cloudy, white substance. Breeding activity is usually sparked by changes in lighting or water conditions. After the gametes join, they develop into free-swimming larvae that eventually settle into your aquarium substrate and develop into mature snails over a period of a few months.

Keeping Banded Trochus Snails In An Aquarium

Since the Banded Trochus  Snail is a algae eating snail, sufficient algae must be present to properly maintain the animal.  Snails can be sensitive to quick changes in salinity and pH, therefore a slow acclimation is suggested. As a general rule, you can keep one snail for every two to three gallons of aquarium water. The Banded Trochus Snail is very peaceful and because of its shell shape, it is not easily eaten by crabs. Unlike its close relative, the Tectus Snail, the Banded Trochus Snail can right itself when knocked over much better than turbo snails.

The Banded Trochus Snail does best in a well-established aquarium with ample hiding places and room to forage. It naturally feeds on algae, and diatoms amongst your live rock, substrate, and aquarium glass. The Banded Trochus is also an effective film algae eater. However, they only passively graze on other nuisance algae, such as hair algae.

Like other invertebrates, Trochus sp. is sensitive to high nitrate levels and intolerant of copper-based medications. . If food levels are insufficient in your aquarium, supplement their diet with dried seaweed. Though most Banded Trochus Snails seem to breed easily, there are no distinguishing characteristics between males and females.

Is aquarium maintenance something you would like to outsource? Snails will help but why not hire a professional?