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Fighting Conch
Strombus alatus
Animalia›Mollusca›Gastropoda›Strombidae
📍 Caribbean sandy flats, Florida to Brazil
A sand-sifting powerhouse — plows through the sandbed consuming detritus, algae, and uneaten food. Lively and active, with eyes on stalks. The name comes from its aggressive response when flipped.
Care Guide
Diet
Fighting conchs are detritivores that consume detritus, film algae, uneaten food, and organic matter from the sandbed. Feed 2-3 times weekly with high-quality sinking pellets or algae wafers supplemented by natural foraging in an established tank. They rarely require supplemental feeding if the tank has adequate organic material and algae growth.
Behavior
Highly active and constantly plowing through the sandbed with their muscular foot, making them excellent natural cleaners. They are peaceful and solitary, though they may interact with other bottom-dwellers. The name derives from their aggressive response when flipped—they right themselves vigorously with their operculum.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is extremely rare and poorly documented. They are broadcast spawners in the wild, releasing gametes into the water column, which is difficult to replicate in home aquaria. Captive-bred specimens are uncommon; most aquarium animals are wild-collected.
Tank Mates
Similar sand-sifting behavior and peaceful temperament; both benefit from established sandbeds
Compatible detritivore with non-overlapping ecological niche; both improve substrate health
Peaceful grazer that won't compete directly; adds diversity to cleanup crew
Algae grazer that complements the conch's detritus consumption
Peaceful scavenger with different feeding habits; both benefit tank health
Common Diseases
Shell Erosion
Pitting, roughness, or dissolving appearance on shell surface; reduced shell integrity
Maintain stable pH 8.1–8.4 and adequate calcium levels; perform regular water changes; avoid aggressive tank mates
Parasitic Infection
Lethargy, reduced feeding, visible parasites on foot or shell, mucus buildup
Quarantine affected individual; perform 25% water changes; treat with copper-free parasite medication if severe
Bacterial Shell Disease
Discoloration, soft spots on shell, foul odor, tissue damage at aperture
Improve water quality with frequent changes; remove decaying organic matter; maintain optimal salinity and pH
Starvation
Withdrawn behavior, failure to emerge from shell, visible weight loss, slow movement
Ensure adequate organic matter in sandbed; supplement with sinking pellets and algae wafers; verify tank maturity
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- diet
- detritivore — detritus, film algae, sand organics
- maxSize
- 4 inches
- minTankSize
- 30 gallons
- temperature
- 72–81°F (22–27°C)
Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C