Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Astraea/Turbos

 Astraea americanum (American Turbo)

Astraea americanum
Gmelin, 1791

American Turbo

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

More

The family Turbinidae probably contains the most useful of all snail species. And must say I was probably the first hobbyist to utilize the Turbo species in aquaria, as I started bringing them back from trips to Mexico in the early 1980's. When I found them doing such a good job in controlling unwanted algae, mentioned this to a person who owned a local aquarium shop. He began collecting them himself in Mexico and began selling them as Turbo-Grazers, with that name thought up by a child in my family!

From there the use of snails in aquaria blossomed, and now includes many other useful species.


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