Astrea Snail Care Guide
Lithopoma tectum is a Caribbean turban snail used as reef cleanup crew; it grazes film and hair algae effectively but cannot right itself if flipped onto sand.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Lithopoma tectum is a marine turban snail of the family Turbinidae. The shell is medium to large, turbinate or top-shaped, with an elevated, imperforate structure and radiately plicate whorls, closed by a calcareous, oval operculum with a granular exterior.
Taxonomy
- Family: Turbinidae
- Genus: Lithopoma
- Scientific name: Lithopoma tectum
- Common names: Astrea snail, star snail
Habitat
Lithopoma species inhabit the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the waters off the Lesser Antilles, where they live on reefs. They naturally occur on reef flats and are typically in contact with a hard surface.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 dKH
- Water flow: moderate
Diet
Astrea snails consume some fine hair algae, algal film on glass and rock, and some forms of cyanobacteria. They are effective grazers that can make notable progress on algae within a week.
Reef compatibility
The snail is peaceful and reef-safe, but a significant drawback is that Lithopoma species cannot right themselves once flipped onto sand and will die if not turned back by the aquarist. On their backs they are also vulnerable to hawkfish, triggerfish, wrasses and hermit crabs, so they should be placed foot-down on a hard surface.
Astraea Snail (Lithopoma tectum): Breeding Notes
Overview
Lithopoma tectum (formerly Astraea tecta), the West Indian star snail, is a turban snail of the family Turbinidae from the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Lesser Antilles and off Brazil. Its shell reaches up to 63 mm and it occurs from 0 to about 10 m depth, grazing film and hair algae from hard surfaces.
Sexing
Turbinid star snails have separate sexes with no reliable external differences; sex is apparent only when gametes are released during spawning.
Spawning & Eggs/Larvae
Fertilization is external. Eggs develop through a trochophore into a non-feeding (lecithotrophic) veliger that swims in the plankton for only about three to five days before settling; no trochoidean veligers are known to feed. This short pelagic phase is characteristic of tropical turbinids.
Common Challenges
Even with a brief larval window, the planktonic veligers are removed by filtration, flow and predators in a typical reef tank, so populations cannot sustain themselves without a dedicated rearing system.