Fuzzy Chiton

Fuzzy Chitons, despite their strange appearance, are among the best cleanup crew available for a diverse range of algae problems! Similar to their snail cousins, chitons are also gastropods, using their foot to completely adhere to surfaces as they scrape algae off using their hardened radula. Unlike most marine snails, however, chitons do not have a singular shell but rather a number of overlapping plates to offer them protection from fishes and other predators. This unique adaptation, in addition to their incredibly powerful ability to anchor down their foot and diverse diet make chitons incredibly hardy in the home aquarium. Chitons are also extraordinarily thorough, often leaving obvious grazing trails through the algae they feed on.