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Assorted Sea Urchins Auriga (Threadfin) Butterfly

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Astraea snail

Price: $1.49

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The Astraea Snail has a unique shell and a ravenous appetite for algae. Unlike many bottom dwellers that are dressed in drab colors to better camouflage themselves against the sand bottoms, Astraea tecta boasts a pyramid-shape shell with beautiful, olive green coloration. Since some individuals have projections on the shell that give it a star-like outline, the Astraea is also known as the Astraea Star Snail. Though interesting to observe in your home aquarium, the Astraea Snail serves a greater function of cleaning algae-covered live rock. It is very adept at keeping your aquarium clean. In fact, this small herbivore prefers to feed on nuisance hair algae, as well as cyanobacteria and diatoms. Some aquarists also report that the Astraea Snail actually consumes the entire hair algae structure, which helps prevent immediate further algae growth. The Astraea Snail prefers well-established aquariums with ample hiding places and sufficient room to roam. In addition to eating algae off of your live rock, this member of the Astraeinae family will also clean your aquarium glass. However, the Astraea Snail is not known to be climbers like other smaller-shelled snail species. Care needs to be taken to observe the daily activities of this hungry snail since it is unable to right itself if it falls or is knocked upside down. Like other invertebrates, the Astrae Snail is sensitive to high nitrate levels and will not tolerate copper-based medications. The Astraea Snail requires a gradual acclimation period, preferably the drip acclimation method, often over two hours, since it cannot tolerate even minute changes in water parameters. If sufficient food levels are not present, supplement the diet with blanched spinach or lettuce and vegetable-based tablet foods.

The Astraea snail is identified by the sharp conical shell with pronounced ridges circling the shell. The shell is normally a light tan in color unless covered with coralline algae. Astraea remain moderately small.Astraea snails are one of the best herbivores to include in the reef tank. They remain fairly small and so do not have the tendency to knock over stuff like the larger growing turbo snail. Astraea snails are herbivores and spend the day foraging for algae. They are not effective against long hair algae, but help to mow any short algae and keep it under control. Very hardy once acclimated, but snails frequently die shortly after introduction due to lack of proper acclimation. Astraea snails also have the annoying habit that they cannot right themselves if they become dislodged and land on their back.