Astrea snails, Astrea americanus (now called Lithopoma americanum), also called star snails, turbo snails, and algae eater snails, are one of the main stays for algae control in marine aquaria. They are about the size of a small grape, and have a voracious appetite for algae. They will eat just about any thin film, encrusting algae, but will also eat hair algae and other nuisance algae. They don't seem to eat coralline algae, and usually don't bother caulerpas, most calcareous algae, and most fleshy macro algae. They may forage on some of the larger algae, but unless they are really hungry they don't tend to eat them. They don't generally eat bubble algae; so if you're having a problem with it, get some green or red mithrax crabs.

 

If you're having a real algae problem, a stocking density of 1 to 2 snails per gallon will do the job, but if your algae is somewhat under control and you just need something to keep it in check, a lower density will do just fine. They can be safely mixed with the cerith snails and nerite snails that we sell, and between the three species, your algae problems should be a thing of the past. 

 

This is a 50 lot price, so if you order one lot, you'll get 50 snails, two lots will be 100 snails, and so on. If you want just a few snails, order through the single snail category.