2 Types of Trochus Snails?

MasonK24

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For that last few years I always thought there was one type of trochus snail (snail #1). I bought trochus snails and received snail #2 which is also a trochus snail after doing some research. Thats news to me! lol Can anyone dispute this/agree? They dont look like the same species to me but I could be wrong. Maybe a different sub-species or originate in different parts of the world?

I got these pics from google since my lights are off, i have snails that look like both of these though.

Snail#1 The snail ive always known as “trochus snails” centered spiral of shell, lighter purple coloring, more pointed shell, longer feelers
8E5C5A3A-D842-4CDB-A273-1F73664425CA.jpeg

Snail#2 The trochus snail that i didnt know was a trochus snail. Spiral off to the side, darker purple, rounded point of spiral, darker purple almost black sometimes. shorter feelers
CF29697A-DCF8-4BC8-B981-165CE833CB80.jpeg
 

Doctorgori

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I got both of those ...the bottom looks like what I got from ReefCleaners I think. ....
I’m thinking the bottom pic is a Turbo ...
I have at least 3-4 so called Turbos and 2 types that look like trochus ... Lights are off now but I’ll try to get pics before the snails go hide for the day
 

reeferdugong

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I've trochus snails that can't right themselves. Thought they were astraea, but my snails have black rim foot
 
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MasonK24

MasonK24

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I got both of those ...the bottom looks like what I got from ReefCleaners I think. ....
I’m thinking the bottom pic is a Turbo ...
I have at least 3-4 so called Turbos and 2 types that look like trochus ... Lights are off now but I’ll try to get pics before the snails go hide for the day
After looking at some pictures I think you’re right. the bottom snail looks like a zebra turbo snail.

Ive seen a bunch of websites selling those as trochus snails. I just kind of took their word for it.
 

vetteguy53081

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Those look more like astrea snails
 
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MasonK24

MasonK24

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here is pictures i took myself of the 3 snails i have.

#1 Trochus
352C57D2-B676-4C0C-9433-8B084086FB8C.jpeg

#2 Astrea
5E1545DC-6B57-4046-BE06-C296CB03733F.jpeg

#3 Sold as a Trochus snail but what i presume to be Zebra Turbo now.
28C7375B-4BFB-4562-93AE-71B9160CFC7A.jpeg
 
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vetteguy53081

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Better pic- I see regular and a banded trochus
 

MabuyaQ

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Tectus, Trochus, Turbo and Astrea all have members that look quite a bit like a species from the other group, so they all get mixed up all the time. Luckily all are good algae eaters.
 

vetteguy53081

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i added numbers to the corresponding pictures because i dont know which you are referring to. could you elaborate?
#1 and 3 banded trochus
 

Isopod80

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Snail #3 is a smaller, less common variety of Trochus known as Trochus radiatus. Reefcleaners has them occasionally. I recently purchased a small group of 5 from John and they definitely get the job done. It's my understanding that this species reproduces more readily in the aquarium than the common variety because the eggs hatch into fully formed snails. No larval stage.
 
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RC51

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For that last few years I always thought there was one type of trochus snail (snail #1). I bought trochus snails and received snail #2 which is also a trochus snail after doing some research. Thats news to me! lol Can anyone dispute this/agree? They dont look like the same species to me but I could be wrong. Maybe a different sub-species or originate in different parts of the world?

I got these pics from google since my lights are off, i have snails that look like both of these though.

Snail#1 The snail ive always known as “trochus snails” centered spiral of shell, lighter purple coloring, more pointed shell, longer feelers
8E5C5A3A-D842-4CDB-A273-1F73664425CA.jpeg

Snail#2 The trochus snail that i didnt know was a trochus snail. Spiral off to the side, darker purple, rounded point of spiral, darker purple almost black sometimes. shorter feelers
CF29697A-DCF8-4BC8-B981-165CE833CB80.jpeg
Haha. I had the same experience. I was really surprized.
 

Aqua Man

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I call them bull dozers! Lol
882E1F0A-578F-4F92-9A7D-BCCE4D7B016E.jpeg
Zebra turbo is what I’ve seen them called. Nocturnal and get big. This is a small one!
 

Isopod80

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Yeah, the zebras can grow to about the size of a softball. The one in the OP's #2 pic is definitely a zebra.
 

ying yang

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I call them bull dozers! Lol
882E1F0A-578F-4F92-9A7D-BCCE4D7B016E.jpeg
Zebra turbo is what I’ve seen them called. Nocturnal and get big. This is a small one!
Wow if thats a small one then the bigger ones really are big boys lol.
Im new to salrwater at 8 months so just getting used to whats what kind of thing but i also getting confused sometimes of when people say get a " turbo snail" and mean trochus but mine nowhere near that big and i see people say they huge and bulldozers,maybe they mean the mexican version as see this mentioned sometimes.
Mine look like in picture 3
 

Isopod80

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The zebra turbos are the largest commonly available variety. The Mexicans stay smaller but are still rather large snails. Both varieties have the potential to dislodge frags and even topple loose rockwork. That's why they're often called bulldosers. Trochus snails stay smaller and tend to be more gentle with their surroundings. While they may not have quite the appetite as the turbos, many reefers would prefer 2 or 3 trochus to 1 turbo.
 

ying yang

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The zebra turbos are the largest commonly available variety. The Mexicans stay smaller but are still rather large snails. Both varieties have the potential to dislodge frags and even topple loose rockwork. That's why they're often called bulldosers. Trochus snails stay smaller and tend to be more gentle with their surroundings. While they may not have quite the appetite as the turbos, many reefers would prefer 2 or 3 trochus to 1 turbo.
Thanks for clearing that up,very helpful ^_^
 

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