Box Snail
Heliacus sp
Saltwater Invertebrate
Species Group: Snail
Family: Architectonicidae
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Water parameters
Temp
76-80 F
Temperature
Maintaining a stable and appropriate temperature is critical for the survival of aquatic life.
pH 7.8 - 8.4 potential of HydrogenMeasuring the acidity or alkalinity of water on a 0–14 scale, where 7 is neutral, 7 is alkaline.
NO3 1-20 ppm NitrateWhile less toxic than ammonia, high nitrate levels (above 40–80 ppm) are important to monitor because they can cause fish stress, stunted growth, and harmful algae blooms.
NO2 <0.0001 ppm NitriteIt is a highly toxic, intermediate compound in the nitrogen cycle produced from broken-down ammonia
PO4 0.01 - 0.1 ppm PhosphateIt is essential for plant development but must be managed, as excess levels trigger nuisance algae blooms and inhibit coral calcification.
NH3 <0.1 ppm AmmoniaIt is the primary killer of aquarium fish, causing gill damage, stress, and death
Ca 380 - 450 ppm CalciumSupporting the growth, skeletal structure, and shell formation of corals, mollusks, crustaceans, and coralline algae
KH 8 - 12 dKH AlkalinityIt acts as a shield, neutralizing acids to prevent dangerous pH "crashes" that can harm fish, corals, and plants.
Mg 1200 - 1400 ppm MagnesiumIt enables coral growth by supporting skeletal formation, assists in metabolic processes, and ensures that calcium is available for corals, clams, and coralline algae.
SG 1.023 - 1.026 SG SalinityEssential for maintaining stable, natural water parameters, proper osmoregulation, and stress-free environments for marine fish and corals
ORP 250 - 400 mV Oxidation-Reduction PotentialA higher positive mV indicates clean, oxygen-rich water with high water quality, while low readings indicate high pollution.
About Box Snail
General information
The Box Snail may look unique and beautiful but keep in mind it is a predatory hitchhiker is commonly found on colonies of zoanthids. A unique characteristic of this snail is it has a cone-shaped operculum, which it uses to cover itself when retracted in the shell. The design on the shell is also quite unique and looks like groups of black and white ropes bound together.
If your colony of zoanthid is not doing well, you may want to inspect them and make sure that you do not find any of the snail in them.
If you find them in your tank the best way to get them out of your tank is to manual removal them. Inspect zoanthid colony further for smaller snails. Also, any newly acquired zoanthid colony should be inspected prior to system introduction.
Diet & nutrition
The Box Snail feeds off of Zoanthid and Palythoa.
Breeding & spawning
Box Snails are asexual so all you need is one to infest your tank. They lay their egg on the base of the polyps so when their young spawn they are close to their food source.
Cautions
Box Snails feed off of Zoanthid and Palythoa and can reproduce quickly.
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