Cerith Snail (Cerithium spp.) Care Guide
Cerithium are small elongated marine snails that sift sand and crevices for detritus, diatoms and algae, valued as reef cleanup crew.
Overview
Cerithium is a genus of small to medium-sized marine snails in the family Cerithiidae, established by Bruguière in 1789. The genus is ancient, with a fossil record reaching back to the Triassic, and contains over a hundred living species distributed worldwide. In reef aquaria they are kept as detritivores and sand sifters.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cerithiidae
- Genus: Cerithium
- Scientific name: Cerithium spp.
- Authority: Bruguière, 1789
Habitat
Cerithium species live in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. Representative members such as Cerithium litteratum inhabit reef environments from the surface down to depths around 88 m, grazing across sand, seagrass and reef flats. Their empty shells are often reused by hermit crabs.
Description
Cerith snails have small, elongated, spire-shaped shells. Representative species reach a maximum shell length of roughly 34 mm. They crawl across substrate and into crevices in search of food.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 30 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
- Lifespan: 1-3 years
Diet
Cerithium snails are detritivores and herbivores. They feed continuously on detritus, diatoms, film algae and uneaten food, and members of the genus help reduce competing algae from surfaces where corals settle.
Compatibility
These peaceful, reef-safe snails suit nano and larger reef tanks and coexist with most reef fish and corals. Triggerfish and pufferfish should be avoided as they prey on snails.
Breeding
Reproduction proceeds through a planktonic larval stage, which makes deliberate captive breeding impractical in home aquaria.