Description
Orange Marble Snail (Babylonia formosae)
Overview
The Orange Marble Snail is a beautifully patterned marine snail featuring a creamy shell with striking orange and brown marbling. Valued for its unique appearance and active behavior, this snail helps maintain substrate cleanliness while adding color and movement to the aquarium.
Origin
Found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, Babylonia formosae inhabits sandy and rubble bottoms, where it burrows in search of food.
Feeding
A carnivorous scavenger that feeds on leftover meaty foods, detritus, and carrion. Supplement its diet with small pieces of shrimp, fish, or marine pellets to ensure good health and activity.
Tank Mates
Compatible with most peaceful fish and invertebrates that won’t prey on snails. Avoid housing with predatory wrasses, triggers, or pufferfish.
Aggression
Peaceful but opportunistic — may consume dead or dying tank mates. Not reef-safe if kept with small, delicate invertebrates.
Experience Level
Best suited for intermediate aquarists. Requires a sandy substrate for burrowing and stable, well-oxygenated water conditions.
Water Parameters
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Temperature: 74°F – 80°F (23°C – 27°C)
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Salinity: 1.023 – 1.025 SG
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pH: 8.1 – 8.4
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Alkalinity: 8 – 12 dKH
Attractive and efficient, the Orange Marble Snail is a fascinating and functional addition to marine aquariums, combining natural beauty with a useful scavenging role.
