Margarites pupillus

Temperature: this is the critical point. LiveAquaria advises keeping it on the cool side; most individuals adapt up to 78 °F (25.6 °C), not beyond. In a warm tropical reef tank its long-term survival is not guaranteed.

Acclimation: by drip. It is sensitive to even small changes in pH, temperature and alkalinity (LiveAquaria).

Setup: an established tank with plenty of algae to graze. It starves if algae become scarce.

Tankmates: non-venomous and peaceful with corals, invertebrates and fish (LiveAquaria). In the wild, crabs (Cancer) and some sea stars eat it: avoid predatory crabs.

Sensitivities: high nitrate, copper-based medications. Keep calcium at a good level for shell growth.

In the wild it is a generalist grazer: its gut contains detritus, filamentous red algae (94% of individuals), diatoms (86%), sponge spicules, filamentous brown algae and, more rarely, remains of hydroids and bryozoans.

In the aquarium it eats large amounts of algae, including hair algae. If they run short, give dried seaweed on an algae clip, or wrapped around a rock or empty shell placed near the glass (LiveAquaria).