Strombus alatus

(Gmelin, 1791)

Fighting Conch

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: North Carolina to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow turtle grass beds.

General Husbandry: Occasionally available in the home aquarium trade.

Small specimens are fine for home aquariums; however, they get full grown quickly, usually within a year or two.

Nevertheless, an excellent consumer of algae and a sand stirrer yet may hunt and consume other snails.

Hunts during daytime and sleeps at night.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda

Order: Littorinimorpha

Family: Strombidae

Genus: Strombus

FYI: Only Maricultured specimens are legally available.

Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: Omnivore

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: Sensitive to specific gravity/salinity changes, therefore be sure to adjust the bag's water to that of the aquarium in which it will be placed by slowly adding small amounts of aquarium water to the bag every few minutes. In most cases, this process should take at least 15 minutes.

Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy

Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 - 26°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4