Astrea Phoebia (Spiny Star Astrea)

The Astrea Phoebia , commonly known as the Spiny Star Astrea, is a Caribbean cleaner snail easily recognizable by its shell adorned with characteristic sharp, star-shaped tubercles—hence its name "Spiny Star." Its rough surface and spines give it a unique appearance. It is a robust and efficient surface cleaner, slightly larger than Nerite snails but comparable to standard Astrea snails.

His role in the baccalaureate

An excellent cleaner of filamentous and encrusting algae on glass, rocks, and decorations. Its spiny shell can sometimes be inconvenient in tanks very densely populated with corals as it can snag when passing over them, but in tanks with sufficient space, it is a reliable cleaner.

Recommended conditions

• Temperature: 23–27°C
• Salinity: 1.023–1.026
• pH: 7.8–8.4 (normal natural day/night fluctuation in a reef tank)
• Alkalinity: 8–10 dKH — Calcium: 380–430 ppm

Behavior

Mostly active at night. May have difficulty righting itself if it falls on its back — keep an eye on it. Peaceful and harmless to corals and fish.