sand sifting snal

Pete · #1 06-16-2003, 12:53 AM

what do people know about these things?

Ryan7 · #2 06-17-2003, 01:56 AM

Are you talking about Nassarius snails, or something similar?

Aquattro · #3 06-17-2003, 03:02 AM

Pete, are you talking about the large orange and white ones that some stores have? They'll eat everything in your sandbed in short order.

Pete · #4 06-17-2003, 07:52 AM

brad is that a good thing if it eats every like you said i am not sure what you mean.
and yes it is big and orange ,very poisonous.

Aquattro · #5 06-17-2003, 10:49 AM

no, not generally a good thing.

sumpfinfishe · #6 06-17-2003, 07:15 PM

Hi Pete
I tried to identify these snails for a LFS a few months back, and this is what Dr.Ron Shimek had to say about them

Quote:

Hi Rich,

The snail is Mitra mitra. These are predatory animals that would decimate a sand bed, eating the worms found in it, that are necessary for the proper functioning of the bed.

They will not eat corals nor will they likely venture on to the rock.

Like Brad also mentioned, these snails are no good for any type of live sand bed as they will eat everything in the sand bad or good.

Try a small fighting conch if you wanna keep your sand bed cleaner, or a sifting goby of some sort.

Cheers, Rich