Chestnut Turbo Snail

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic, from North Carolina and Florida, through the Gulf of Mexico, to Brazil. Inhabits shallow rocky reefs and seagrass beds.

Taxonomy: Member of the family Turbinidae. Features a globose, top-shaped shell measuring about 2.5-3.5 cm in size. The shell surface is sculpted with spiral cords of small, rough nodules. Grows to 3 cm.

Social Behavior: Peaceful, primarily nocturnal, and strictly herbivorous. Spends the night grazing over live rock and glass surfaces. Cannot easily right itself if it falls upside down on loose sand.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Shell color varies from chestnut-brown, reddish-brown, to dark brown, often marbled or flecked with white and gray patches. Operculum is greenish-white. No visible sexual dimorphism.

Tank Setup: Suitable for reef aquariums of 10-12 gallons or larger. Requires stable live rock structures with ample surface area for grazing. Avoid open sand expanses without rock support.

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. Excellent member of the clean-up crew (CUC). Compatible with peaceful fish and corals. May be targeted by hermits seeking replacement shells.

Aquarium Breeding: Broadcast spawner. Reproduction in home aquariums is extremely rare as pelagic larvae do not survive standard filtration systems.

Risks and Diseases: Starvation in overly clean aquariums. Death from being flipped over on sand; must be manually turned upright. Shell erosion in aquariums with low pH.