{"product_id":"astraea-snail-astralium-sp","title":"Astraea Snail | Astralium sp.","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Astraea Snail is one of the most reliable film- and turf-algae grazers in the hobby — small, tidy and completely reef safe. It works glass and rock tirelessly and earns its place in almost any clean-up crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe star shells sold under this name in Australia are Astralium species from shallow rocky reefs and rubble zones across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, where they graze algae from hard surfaces. Recreate this with plenty of mature live rock and stable, well-lit reef conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA neat conical, top-shaped shell with a distinctly star-shaped or scalloped base edge and low ridges on the spire, in muted greens, browns and greys and frequently dusted with coralline. Most specimens reach around 2.5–5 cm across the base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and entirely harmless to corals, fish and other invertebrates. Safe in any numbers; a common guide is one snail per 4–8 litres depending on algae load.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA dedicated herbivore that grazes film algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria and soft turf from glass and rock. In a very clean tank, supplement with dried marine algae so it does not slowly starve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest in an established reef of at least 40 litres with good water quality and stable salinity at normal tropical reef temperatures. Like all invertebrates it is intolerant of copper and sensitive to sudden change, so always drip-acclimate over an hour or more. One quirk: it struggles to right itself if it topples, so gently flip any that land upside down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eStar shells are broadcast spawners and are not bred in home aquaria; their larvae need open-water plankton culture beyond a normal reef setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAstralium sp.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAstraea Snail, Star Shell, Top-shell Snail\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropical Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.5–5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore – film \u0026amp; turf algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.023–1.025 SG\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef and marine clean-up crews\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (marine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eExcellent alongside other reef-safe snails (Trochus, Nassarius, Cerith), hermit crabs, shrimp and peaceful reef fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePredatory or shell-collecting animals — larger hermit crabs, wrasses, puffers, triggerfish and predatory whelks that will eat or evict them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian marine livestock for in-store collection or local delivery. Drip-acclimate all new invertebrates and never expose them to copper-based medications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: the true Astraea tecta (Lithopoma tectum) is a Caribbean species and is not available in Australia. The star shells supplied here are Indo-Pacific Astralium sp., still widely sold under the trade name Astraea, and they graze exactly the same way.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234109538595,"sku":"BA8156","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/astraea-snail.jpg?v=1781501748","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/astraea-snail-astralium-sp","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}