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Abalone Snail

Haliotis asinina

Image credit: portioid · CC BY 4.0 · Source · Licence details

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Tropical abalone with a flattened ear-shaped shell, respiratory holes and a large muscular grazing foot. Tropical Indo-Pacific; not interchangeable with cool-water abalone.

Structured aquarium care

Responsible care profile

Natural-history records, reported aquarium practice and experimentally established limits are distinct. Numeric recommendations are provided only where their source and scope are identified.

Care-source supported

The structured record includes multiple references and at least one dedicated aquarium-care source.

4 referenced sources

Care information requiring follow-up

The following required fields still need source verification. Their absence is not a confirmed care recommendation.

  • Feeding / nutrition schedule
Care level
Intermediate
Minimum volume
30 US gal (113.6 L)
Preferred volume
Not specified in current guidance
Adult size
5 in (12.7 cm)
Reef compatibility
Reef-Safe
Temperament
Peaceful grazer
Social plan
Not specified

Water

LiveAquaria species-specific retail maintenance guidance; not experimentally established tolerance limits. · LiveAquaria species-specific retail maintenance guidance; not experimentally established tolerance limits.

Temperature
72–78 °F (22.2–25.6 °C)
Salinity / specific gravity
1.023–1.025 SG
pH
8.1–8.4
Alkalinity
8–12 dKH

Habitat

Tropical Indo-Pacific; not interchangeable with cool-water abalone.

Feeding

Nocturnal algal grazer. Supply macroalgae or suitable marine algal foods when grazing is insufficient; SEAFDEC trials show that algal species differ in nutritional adequacy. · Not established by the inspected species references; establish a supported feeding schedule and verify actual consumption before acquisition. · Nocturnal algal grazer. Supply macroalgae or suitable marine algal foods when grazing is insufficient; SEAFDEC trials show that algal species differ in nutritional adequacy.

Compatibility

Needs established grazing surfaces and food provisioning. Retail30-gallon guidance is a maintenance recommendation, not a stocking guarantee or experimentally demonstrated minimum.

What the evidence establishes

Species identity, source-scoped natural history, aquarium suitability and image permission reviewed.

  • Taxonomic identity
  • Source-identified photographs
  • Feeding ecology and practical limits

LiveAquaria species-specific retail maintenance guidance; not experimentally established tolerance limits.

Acclimation and quarantine

Confirm species identity and the source animal’s established holding conditions. Arrange a suitable permanent system and qualified transfer plan before acquisition.

Stocking safeguards

Aquarium setting: Home aquarium. Starvation risk: Not established.

Needs established grazing surfaces and food provisioning. Retail30-gallon guidance is a maintenance recommendation, not a stocking guarantee or experimentally demonstrated minimum.

  • Needs established grazing surfaces and food provisioning. Retail30-gallon guidance is a maintenance recommendation, not a stocking guarantee or experimentally demonstrated minimum.

Special risks

  • Needs established grazing surfaces and food provisioning. Retail30-gallon guidance is a maintenance recommendation, not a stocking guarantee or experimentally demonstrated minimum.

Husbandry Findings and Limits

These findings explain what the cited evidence supports. Facility precautions are identified separately from tested captive outcomes.

Observed husbandry and limits — Documented keeping guidance; not a controlled trial

Needs established grazing surfaces and food provisioning. Retail30-gallon guidance is a maintenance recommendation, not a stocking guarantee or experimentally demonstrated minimum.

Scope and remaining limit: The linked references support the stated observations and safeguards; they do not establish a universal lifetime ration, minimum volume or full physiological tolerance.

Sources: Aquarium or husbandry account · WoRMS — accepted taxonomic name · SEAFDEC farming research
Feeding and food access — Documented keeping guidance; not a controlled trial

Nocturnal algal grazer. Supply macroalgae or suitable marine algal foods when grazing is insufficient; SEAFDEC trials show that algal species differ in nutritional adequacy.

Scope and remaining limit: Food type and capture method do not establish a complete measured lifetime ration. Monitor actual feeding and condition.

Sources: Aquarium or husbandry account · WoRMS — accepted taxonomic name · SEAFDEC farming research
Additional documented feeding evidence — Captive observation within source scope

Juvenile trial: once daily at 16:00. A species-specific juvenile diet experiment fed formulated diets once each afternoon at 2–5% body weight. Separately, SEAFDEC farming research shows substantial effects of algal food identity on growth and health.

Scope and remaining limit: Experimental juveniles averaged about15mm shell length initially and were tested for90days. This is documented research husbandry, not an established adult home-aquarium ration; do not prescribe2–5% for all adult animals.

Sources: Species husbandry follow-up — feeding and scope

Identification

Tropical abalone with a flattened ear-shaped shell, respiratory holes and a large muscular grazing foot.

Adult Size and Measurement

Reported adult reference: 5.0 in (12.7 cm), measured as Retailer maximum size; shell versus extended-body convention unspecified. This is not a sale-size guarantee.

Distribution and Habitat

Tropical Indo-Pacific; not interchangeable with cool-water abalone.

Feeding and Ecological Role

Nocturnal algal grazer. Supply macroalgae or suitable marine algal foods when grazing is insufficient; SEAFDEC trials show that algal species differ in nutritional adequacy.

Aquarium Husbandry and Limits

Needs established grazing surfaces and food provisioning. Retail30-gallon guidance is a maintenance recommendation, not a stocking guarantee or experimentally demonstrated minimum.

Reproduction

Aquaculture research documents maturation and culture; food and substrate requirements change with life stage.

A living record

Added from the missing-invertebrate audit. No occurrence polygon or captive lifetime success rate inferred. Public content last reviewed October 18, 2026.

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