Dove Snail

Dove Snail (Columbella mercatoria)

The Dove Snail is a small, peaceful grazing snail that makes an excellent addition to your saltwater aquarium clean-up crew. Native to the Atlantic, Dove Snails spend most of their time on rocks and glass, where they consume film algae, diatoms, fine hair algae, algal detritus, and some species of cyanobacteria. They may also venture onto the substrate while searching for food. Growing to only about 0.75 inches, their small size and conch-like appearance make them an especially attractive choice for nano and smaller reef aquariums.

Dove Snails have variable coloration and an appearance reminiscent of miniature conchs, making them a great option for aquarists who want to recreate a natural reef scene on a smaller scale. They are hardy, peaceful, and useful algae grazers that can help keep aquarium surfaces cleaner. Unlike many marine snails, Dove Snail eggs hatch as fully formed juveniles and do not have a planktonic larval stage. Because of this, they are capable of reproducing in established aquariums, although they are not typically prolific breeders. Since individual snails cannot be sexed, adding six or more specimens is a good rule of thumb for having both sexes represented.

Quick Facts:

• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Typical Size: 0.5 - 0.75 inch
• Maximum Size: 0.75 inch (20 mm)
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Diet: Film Algae, Diatoms, Hair Algae, Detritus, and some species of Cyanobacteria
• Resides: Rocks, glass, and substrate
• Origin: Atlantic
• Availability: Irregular
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Warnings: None

Dove Snails are a particularly good choice for nano aquarium owners looking for a small-scale clean-up crew member with the appearance of a conch. Their ability to graze hard surfaces, combined with their peaceful nature and potential to reproduce in the aquarium, makes them a unique and useful addition to a mature marine aquarium.