Norrisia norrisii

(Sowerby, 1838)

Red Foot Moon Snail

Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean: California to Mexico.

Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits kelp forests and is a nocturnal cool water species having a brown colored turban-shaped shell and reddish foot area.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the home aquarium trade.

Even though a very good consumer of algae, including hair algae/filamentous algae, red cyanobacteria and brown diatoms, this cool water species does not fair well in aquariums having temperatures above the mid 70's (24°C). Its also prefers to hide during daytime hours, therefore enough caves/live rock/crevices is required to maintain them long-term, besides a cool water temperature. Mostly inhabits rocky surfaces.

Under the right conditions, they can rid the aquarium quite fast of unwanted algae growths, yet should their diet become inadequate, they become weak and fall off rocks. It's then time to provide them some vegetable-based tablet foods/dried seaweed/Nori.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda

Order: Archaeogastropoda

Family: Tegulidae

Genus: Norrisia

FYI: Not well suited for tropical aquariums, as they are truly a temperate water species, however they show up in the trade and are often short-lived because of higher aquarium water temperatures.

Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: Herbivore

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: Sensitive to specific gravity/salinity changes, therefore be sure to adjust the bag's water to that of the aquarium in which it will be placed by slowly adding small amounts of aquarium water to the bag every few minutes. In most cases, this process should take at least 15 minutes.

Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy

Temperature Range: 59 - 75°F (15 - 24°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4