Nassarius snail (bruised nassa) (Nassarius vibex) care guide

Group
Snails
Other names
Bruised nassa, Phrontis vibex, Nassa vibex, Nassarius snail, Nassa mud snail, Dog whelk
Family
Nassariidae
Origin
Western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Texas, the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, south to Brazil
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
2 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
SG 1.023–1.025, dKH 8–12
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
yes

Care

The bruised nassa is a small nassarius snail with an oval, conical olive shell, often with a white or yellowish band, a rounded white opening and a broad brown-and-white callus. Shells are 1–2 cm long. It is one of the Atlantic nassarius snails sold for reef clean-up crews; shops often sell several Nassarius species from the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific under one name. Names: it is now usually placed in the genus Phrontis, as Phrontis vibex, though the trade still uses Nassarius. Clean-up crew: nassarius snails are scavengers of uneaten food, detritus, fish waste and dead animals. They do not eat algae. They burrow in the sand with just the siphon showing, then shoot out when they smell food. Their digging stirs and aerates the sand bed and helps stop it compacting. They need sand: a few centimetres of fine sand at least, ideally an established deep sand bed with live rock. No source gives a stocking rate, so add a small group and more only if leftover food remains. Water: 22–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, SG 1.023–1.025, dKH 8–12. Sensitive to high nitrate. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and read the label of any treatment, fertiliser or algae remover before use. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/nassarius-snail); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassariusvibex). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A scavenger. It eats leftover fish food, detritus and dead animals in the sand. In a clean tank, drop a pellet or a piece of frozen food into the sand now and then so it does not starve.

Breeding

Sexes are separate. Females glue small egg capsules to glass and rock, and the eggs hatch into planktonic larvae that are almost never reared in home tanks. LiveAquaria describes breeding as extremely difficult in captivity.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe and peaceful with corals, fish and other invertebrates. Hermit crabs may kill it for its shell, and wrasses, triggers, puffers and some crabs eat small snails. Do not keep with tiger cowries or conchs that compete for the same food in a small tank.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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