Cerith Snail Care Guide
Cerithium is a genus of small, elongated marine snails used as reef cleanup crew; they burrow in sand by day and graze algae and detritus, mainly at night.
Overview
Cerithium is a genus of small to medium-sized marine gastropod molluscs with elongated, spiralled shells, established by Bruguière in 1789. The genus has a long fossil record extending from the Triassic to the present day.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cerithiidae
- Genus: Cerithium
- Scientific name: Cerithium sp.
- Common names: cerith snail
Habitat
Cerithium snails are marine bottom-dwellers. Several species sold in the aquarium hobby naturally burrow into the sand and feed on detritus and other edible material within it, so they require a deep sand bed in aquaria.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 20 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: low
- Substrate: deep sand bed
Diet
Cerith snails eat algae and diatoms but have a broader menu than typical algae-eating snails. They constantly work the sand, removing algae, detritus, fish waste and dead material, and are particularly effective at cleaning glass at and just below the sand line.
Reef compatibility
These snails are largely nocturnal, burrowing in the sand by day and emerging at night to feed. They are reef-safe and well suited to a reef tank or refugium with a sand bed.