Sand Sifting Conch

Sand Sifting Conchs come in a variety of forms such as Tiger Conchs and Strawberry Conchs, but they all serve the same purpose, keeping the sandbed free of detritus and algae.  As their name implies, these conchs spend their days on the sandbed sifting through the substrate looking for algae, uneaten food and microfauna.  As such, they can be one of the most effective members of a reef tank’s cleanup crew and can help keep the sandbed clean using their unique trunk-like appendage to feed.  They drag their shells when they move and this helps to aerate the sand as well.  They have a “foot” they use to propel themselves along the sandbed and this, combined with their unique method of eating, make them an interesting invertebrate to watch as they scour the tank for food.

Sand Sifting Conchs are found throughout the world’s tropical waters in a variety of habitats such as reef slopes, tidal areas and sandy bottomed lagoons.  In a home aquarium, they absolutely require a sandbed, as this is where they forage for food.  In rare instances, they may also climb the rockwork or even the glass in search of algae.  They are completely reef safe and will not bother any other tank inhabitants or corals.  Larger hermit crabs may prey on conchs for their shells, so it is a good idea to have extra shells available to reduce the likelihood of this happening.

Provided they are added to a mature tank, which is recommended, Sand Sifting Conchs will not require any supplemental feeding since they are true omnivores and will eat a wide variety of detritus and algae  For a hobbyist looking for a gentle invertebrate that will help keep the sandbed clean, while also being interesting to watch the Sand Sifting Conch makes a great choice.