Macroalgae Farms
Strawberry Conch Snail (Cyano Eater)
$39.99
Key Features:
Estimated delivery between September 29 and October 01.
$39.99
$39.99
About this item
Strawberry Conch
The Strawberry Conch (Strombus luhuanus) — also called the Blood-Mouthed Conch, Ruby Conch, or Bloody-Mouthed Conch — is one of the most functionally valuable, distinctively marked, and universally recommended cleanup crew invertebrates available anywhere in the entire saltwater hobby. What makes the Strawberry Conch genuinely stand apart from every other cleanup crew snail in the trade is a rare and highly-prized feeding behavior: Strawberry Conches actively consume cyanobacteria (also known as "red slime algae") — one of the most persistent and frustrating nuisance issues in reef aquariums, and one that the vast majority of cleanup crew members will completely ignore. Combined with a distinctive vibrant red-orange interior mouth that gives the species its trademark "strawberry" and "blood-mouthed" common names, an active foraging personality, and a conical cream-and-tan patterned shell, the Strawberry Conch delivers rare functional value that no standard turbo snail, hermit crab, or nassarius snail can match.
What makes the Strawberry Conch such a highly recommended cleanup crew addition is the combination of unique cyanobacteria-consumption behavior, peaceful reef-safe temperament, and the easy-care beginner-friendly husbandry that make premium functional value accessible to reefers at every skill level. Strawberry Conches actively patrol sand beds and rockwork throughout the day consuming cyanobacteria mats, film algae, hair algae, detritus, uneaten fish food, and decaying matter — delivering multi-purpose cleanup value while specifically targeting the cyanobacteria issues that plague many established reef systems and that standard cleanup crew members cannot address. Peaceful with fish and other invertebrates, completely reef-safe with corals, and easy to keep in any standard reef aquarium with an established sand bed, the Strawberry Conch is one of the best functional cleanup crew additions available anywhere in the entire marine invertebrate trade.
Available Options
- One healthy Strawberry Conch (Strombus luhuanus) — hand-selected from current inventory
- Conical shell with distinctive bright red-orange interior mouth
- Active cyanobacteria consumer — targets red slime algae that most cleanup crew ignore
- Peaceful reef-safe cleanup crew with easy beginner-friendly care
For cyanobacteria-affected tanks, multiple Strawberry Conches are more effective than single specimens — recommend 1 conch per 15-25 gallons for active cyano management.
Care Information
| Temperature | 72–82°F (22–28°C) |
| Salinity | 1.023–1.026 — stable parameters |
| Tank Size | 20+ gallons — fine to medium sand bed required for burrowing |
| Diet | Cyanobacteria, film algae, hair algae, detritus, uneaten food, decaying matter |
| Temperament | Peaceful — reef-safe with all corals, fish, and other invertebrates |
| Care Level | Easy — hardy beginner-friendly cleanup crew invertebrate |
Special Considerations
Sand bed requirement: Strawberry Conches require an established sand bed for natural foraging behavior — they burrow partially into fine to medium sand substrate to feed, rest, and hide from potential threats. A fine to medium grade aragonite sand bed of at least 1-2 inches deep is ideal. Bare-bottom tanks are not suitable for this species; the conch will struggle to feed naturally and may not thrive long-term without appropriate substrate.
Feeding supplementation: While Strawberry Conches thrive on natural cyanobacteria, algae, and detritus in most established reef systems, tanks with insufficient natural food supply (very clean systems, minimal detritus, no cyano) may require supplemental feeding to prevent starvation. Occasional additions of dried algae sheets, sinking algae pellets, or sinking cleanup crew wafers help maintain health in low-food environments. Watch for shell erosion or lethargic behavior as signs of insufficient nutrition.
⚠️ COPPER TOXICITY WARNING: Like all marine invertebrates, Strawberry Conches are extremely sensitive to copper-based medications and copper contamination — even trace copper levels can be lethal within hours. Do NOT add Strawberry Conches (or any invertebrate) to any aquarium that has ever been treated with copper-based medications, or that uses copper-containing plumbing components. Test water for copper levels before introduction if there is any question about tank history.
Compatibility: Strawberry Conches are peaceful and completely reef-safe with all corals, fish, and other invertebrates. However, they are NOT compatible with predatory fish that specifically target snails including: many wrasses (particularly Six-Line Wrasse, Melanurus Wrasse, and other snail-eating wrasse species), puffers, triggerfish, larger hermit crabs, and crab species that hunt snails. Compatible with peaceful reef community fish including clownfish, gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, chromis, and most reef-safe wrasses that do not target snails.
🔍 Aquarium Insights
The Strawberry Conch is one of the most functionally valuable and distinctively marked cleanup crew invertebrates available to reef keepers:
- Active cyanobacteria consumer — one of the very few reef-safe cleanup crew members that will target "red slime algae" that plague many established reef systems
- Distinctive bright red-orange interior mouth and conical patterned shell — the source of the species' "strawberry" and "blood-mouthed" common names
- An easy-care beginner-friendly cleanup crew invertebrate with genuinely rare functional value — one of the best cleanup crew additions for reefers battling cyanobacteria issues or building a multi-purpose functional cleanup crew that addresses the full range of common reef nuisance issues
Learn More
For detailed species information, compatibility, and care tips, visit our Species Library.
Due to natural variation, the Strawberry Conch you receive will be hand-selected from current inventory and may vary in exact size, shell pattern intensity, and mouth color saturation. Specific size and shell pattern cannot be guaranteed and are determined at packing time.
Photographs are representative examples. Individual specimens may vary in size, shell pattern, and coloration.
Strawberry Conches require an established sand bed for natural foraging behavior and are NOT compatible with copper-treated tanks (copper is lethal to all invertebrates). Not compatible with snail-eating predators including some wrasses, puffers, and triggerfish. For active cyanobacteria management, multiple specimens are significantly more effective than singles. As with all live animals, proper acclimation and a suitable, established environment are essential for best results.
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