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Tectus Snail
Tectus fenestratus
Animalia›Mollusca›Gastropoda›Tegulidae
📍 Indo-Pacific reef rubble
Larger turban-shaped snail with a heavily ridged shell. A workhorse algae grazer on rockwork and glass — handles tougher hair algae that smaller snails cannot manage. Peaceful and active.
Care Guide
Diet
Tectus snails are dedicated herbivores that graze continuously on hair algae, film algae, and diatoms covering rockwork and glass surfaces. Supplement with blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach 2-3 times weekly if algae growth is insufficient. They do not require commercial pellets but benefit from occasional algae wafers to ensure consistent nutrition.
Behavior
These snails are active grazers that spend most of their time slowly moving across surfaces in search of food, making them excellent for algae control in established tanks. They are completely peaceful and will not bother other inhabitants, though they may occasionally be preyed upon by aggressive fish or crustaceans. Tectus snails are nocturnal and more active during evening hours, though they graze throughout the day.
Breeding
Breeding Tectus snails in captivity is extremely rare and virtually undocumented in home aquariums. They are broadcast spawners that require specific environmental triggers and larval development in open water, making captive reproduction impractical. Populations are maintained through wild collection rather than aquaculture.
Tank Mates
Peaceful reef fish that ignore snails and share similar saltwater reef habitat requirements
Non-aggressive invertebrate that coexists peacefully with snails in reef environments
Herbivorous fish that shares algae-grazing niche without competing aggressively for food
Peaceful bottom-dwelling goby that occupies different feeding zones and does not prey on snails
Reef-safe invertebrate that cohabits peacefully with snails in established saltwater systems
Common Diseases
Shell Erosion
Pitting, roughness, or dissolution of shell surface; white chalky patches on shell
Maintain stable pH 8.1-8.4 and adequate calcium levels; perform regular water changes; ensure proper alkalinity (8-12 dKH)
Parasitic Infection
Lethargy, reduced grazing activity, visible parasites on shell or foot, mucus buildup
Quarantine affected snail; perform 25% water changes; avoid copper-based treatments; maintain water quality and temperature stability
Starvation
Reduced activity, failure to graze, visible weight loss, remaining inside shell for extended periods
Increase algae growth through lighting adjustments; supplement with blanched vegetables; ensure adequate food sources before adding snails
Bacterial Infection
Cloudy shell, foul odor from shell opening, tissue damage, reduced movement
Improve water quality through increased aeration and frequent water changes; maintain optimal temperature; remove dead snails immediately
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- diet
- herbivore — hair algae, film algae
- maxSize
- 3 inches
- minTankSize
- 20 gallons
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C