Pyramid Top Snail

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to southern Japan, Australia, and Polynesia. Inhabits shallow rocky reefs and reef crests.

Taxonomy: Member of the family Tegulidae. Distinct from Tectus niloticus by its smoother, more regularly conical, pyramid-shaped shell, measuring 6-9 cm in base diameter as an adult. Grows to 8 cm.

Social Behavior: Peaceful, hardworking, and active primarily at night. Constantly climbs rocks and glass surfaces scraping algae off. Possesses the valuable ability to easily right itself.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Shell color has a grayish-green, olive, beige, or pale brownish tone, often obscured by pink coralline algae growths. Interior is highly pearly. No visible sexual dimorphism.

Tank Setup: Suitable for reef aquariums of 30 gallons or larger. Requires stable live rock structures with ample surface area for grazing. Secure loose rockwork to prevent displacement.

Diet and Feeding: Strictly herbivorous. Consumes green hair algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and film algae. Supplement with dried seaweed (nori sheets) if natural algae is depleted.

Water Quality: Stable reef parameters. Salinity SG 1.021-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, temperature 22-28°C. Highly sensitive to copper treatments and sudden osmotic shocks.

Compatibility and Tankmates: 100% reef-safe. Perfect cleanup crew snail. Compatible with peaceful reef fish and corals. May occasionally be targeted by large hermit crabs.

Aquarium Breeding: Can reproduce spontaneously in home aquariums through broadcast spawning. Fertilized eggs develop into larvae that settle quickly on rocky substrates.

Risks and Diseases: Starvation in overly clean aquariums. Low calcium or alkalinity levels preventing proper shell growth. Highly sensitive to copper treatments.