Saltwater Snail Clean Up Crew Guide
Quick answer
A good reef clean up crew mixes rock grazers (astrea and turbo snails) with sand workers (cerith and nassarius snails). Start with about 1 snail per gallon in a mature tank, add slowly, and keep salinity steady around 1.024 to 1.026.
| Turbo snails | Rock and glass, hair algae, larger tanks |
|---|---|
| Astrea snails | Rock and glass, film algae, all sizes |
| Cerith snails | Sand and rock, diatoms and film |
| Nassarius snails | Sand bed, leftover food |
| Salinity | 1.024 to 1.026 |
| Temperature | 75 to 80°F |
Who does what
Astrea and turbo snails work the rock and glass. Ceriths graze sand and rock. Nassarius snails stay buried and race out when food lands. Together they cover every surface.
Astrea snails and flipping
Astrea snails cannot always right themselves when they fall on their backs. If you see one upside down, turn it over.
Do not overstock
Too many grazers in a new tank will starve. Add snails as algae appears, not before. Copper based medications are deadly to all snails.
Questions
Are these snails reef safe?
Yes, all four are considered reef safe and leave corals alone.
Can hermit crabs live with them?
Often, but some hermit crabs attack snails for their shells. Keep spare empty shells in the tank.
Related guides
Sources
General hobby guidance. Check your state's rules and never release aquarium animals into the wild.