Can someone identify this?

whaase · #1 02-11-2004, 02:54 AM

I noticed this snail in my tank, I didn't buy him and I was wondering what it was? It has a long "nose" that pops out and feels around. Sorry for the bad quality in the picture. I'm not sure why I can't get a better one. You'd think 5 megapixel would give you a pretty good picture!?

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/snail.jpg

Walter

christyf5 · #2 02-11-2004, 02:57 AM

Yeah I got one of those mystery snails too. It was sitting on my zoos so I put it in the sump.

http://www.canreef.com/phpBB2/viewto...r=asc&start=15

Christy

sumpfinfishe · #3 02-12-2004, 02:44 PM

Walter,
That mystery snail of your looks like a fighting conch to me

No alarm however, fighting conches are much desired in most reef systems as they keep the sandbed clean of diatoms

Keep an eye on it and if it's out and about for a few days and then it disapears into the sand for another few days then I would say for sure fighting conch. You could also do a google search on fighting conch, that way you can compare pics as I don't have any images or I would post one.

I have three in my reef, which I had to pay $10 a piece for, so consider than a deal of a hitchhiker if it is a conch

Christy, I can't quite tell from the pic but I think yours is a snail and not a conch

Quinn · #4 02-12-2004, 03:03 PM

I wouldn't be so quick to assume it's a fighting conch, given that there are over 90 species of conch and many thousands more species of other gastropods that could be mistaken for conchs. Strombus alatus has "spikes" on the crown of its shell. It will also have visible eye stalks and an operculum, the crab-like spade foot used to assist in movement. Without the eyes I would think it might be some type of whelk (over 75 species of these). Also note that there are at least three species of "fighting" conch, and that they all originate on the coasts of North America. Therefore unless your live rock is from Florida or the Caribbean in general, you are unlikely to be so fortunate.

I should note that most LFSs seem uninterested in properly identifying gastropods (and other livestock) prior to sale - caveat emptor.

sumpfinfishe · #5 02-12-2004, 03:09 PM

Walter,

Quinn is totally right, I'm not saying for sure that it is a fighting conch, just that it looks alot like one. I would monitor it and do some searches on google. You could also go to RC and post a pic for Dr.Ron and he should be able to identify it.

Seriak · #6 02-12-2004, 09:10 PM

I have a snail very similar to that and it has survived no matter what I do to it. It actually worked its way from my sump up my return back into the main tank. I keep wanting to kill it, but my heart won't let me. The reason for this is because he was a snail eater. He would go right up to my other snails and slowly kill them and eat them.

whaase · #7 02-12-2004, 11:37 PM

I'm going to look around and see what I cn find? It doesn't seem to bother anyone. Just goes around poking that weird this from the front of him around I guess feeling/sensing? Very weird looking upclose... I wish I could get some better pictures...

Walter

Quinn · #8 02-13-2004, 02:56 AM

His mouth...

whaase · #9 02-15-2004, 07:55 PM

Here is a much better picture of the snail.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/goodsnail.jpg

Walter

EmilyB · #10 02-15-2004, 08:29 PM

I have some that are quite similar, and the consensus was that they were of the Nassariidae family, some species shown here:

http://seashellsofnsw.org.au/Nassari...idae_plate.htm

Mine have been around a long time, hang out under the rock vs the sand like some of the more common nasarrius. They breed like rabbits and do show up on the glass at night. They have never done any harm, and are definite carrion eaters for one.