Turbo Snail

Turbo snails (commonly Turbo fluctuosa, often called "Mexican Turbo snails") are popular marine aquarium snails known for their algae-eating abilities and distinctive spiral-shaped, often iridescent shells. Here's a comprehensive care and description guide:

🔍 Description

• Common Name: Turbo Snail

• Scientific Name: Turbo fluctuosa

• Origin: Eastern Pacific (e.g., Baja California, Mexico)

• Size: 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm)

• Lifespan: 1–3 years (with proper care)

• Color: Shell ranges from greenish to brown with iridescent interior; body is usually gray or black

🐌 Behavior and Temperament

• Peaceful and reef-safe

• Active algae grazers—excellent for cleaning live rock and glass

• Can be clumsy and knock over unsecured corals or decorations

• Nocturnal tendencies, though often active during the day too

🧪 Tank Requirements

• Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons per snail (larger is better)

• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–25.5°C)

• Salinity: 1.023–1.025 specific gravity

• pH: 8.1–8.4

• dKH (Alkalinity): 8–12

• Calcium: 400–450 ppm (important for shell health)

• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm

• Nitrate: < 20 ppm

🧼 Diet and Feeding

• Primarily feeds on algae: film algae, diatoms, and some types of hair algae

• Supplement with:

  • Nori (dried seaweed)

  • Algae wafers

  • Blanched vegetables (e.g., zucchini or spinach)

• If algae is scarce in the tank, they must be supplemented or they may starve

⚠️ Care Tips and Cautions

• Acclimation: Use a slow drip acclimation (1–2 hours) to prevent shock due to salinity differences

• Flip Risk: If flipped over, they often can't right themselves—check and flip manually if needed

• Copper Sensitivity: Avoid copper-based medications; they're toxic to invertebrates

• Shell Health: Ensure adequate calcium and stable water parameters to prevent shell erosion

✅ Good Tankmates

• Other peaceful snails (Nassarius, Trochus, Cerith)

• Hermit crabs (be cautious, some may try to steal shells)

• Shrimp, clownfish, gobies, and most reef-safe fish

• Avoid aggressive crabs or fish that might nip or prey on them