Astraea Snail (Lithopoma tectum) Care Guide
Lithopoma tectum, the West Indian starsnail, is a cone-shaped Caribbean grazer popular for film algae and hair algae control in reef tanks.
Overview
Lithopoma tectum, the West Indian starsnail, is a cone-shaped Caribbean gastropod widely traded as the "Astraea" snail (the trade name "Astraea tecta" appears among its synonyms). The elevated conic shell reaches a maximum recorded length of 63 mm and shows reddish-orange coloration with white and olivaceous markings. It is a popular algae grazer but, unlike Trochus snails, it cannot right itself if flipped.
Taxonomy
- Family: Turbinidae
- Genus: Lithopoma
- Scientific name: Lithopoma tectum
- Common synonym: Astraea tectum (Lightfoot, 1786)
Habitat
The species inhabits the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Lesser Antilles, and in the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil, at depths from 0 to 10 m. It lives on algae-covered rock and rubble.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Adult shell size: 2-4 cm
- Lifespan: 1-3 years
- Established tank with hiding places and grazing surfaces
Diet
This herbivore uses a strong rasping radula to scrape film algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria and nuisance hair algae from rock and glass; some aquarists report it consuming entire hair-algae structures. It prefers well-established tanks with sufficient algae to graze.
Compatibility
It is peaceful and reef-safe but cannot tolerate even minute changes in water parameters, so slow drip acclimation is recommended. It is sensitive to high nitrate and to copper-based medications. Because it cannot right itself when overturned, hermit crabs (which prey on flipped snails) are best kept separately, and flipped individuals should be returned to their foot manually.