What the ??? ID Please.... - Page 3

christyf5 · #21 02-02-2004, 09:16 PM

well it sorta looks conchy except for the pointy part of the shell. I was under the impression that fighting conches shells are more flat at the ends instead of the pointy spiral. Besides, don't fighting conches have 2 eyeball antennaes? Mine only had one.

Christy

Nemain · #22 02-02-2004, 10:00 PM

So i called the LFS, and they tell me that this is a tiger conch... I am sort of torn, do I believe DR. Ron that the eggs come from a whelk, and that this is a whelk ( looks a lot liek a whelk to me) Or do I take thier word for it?

BTW couldnt find any pictures of a *tiger conch*

Beth

Quinn · #23 02-02-2004, 10:00 PM

Oh sheesh, someone sold you this? Good grief. Can you PM the store name for interest's sake? Definently not a conch. Conches have two eye stalks (unless they're amputees, like Christy's), and an operculum, the crab-like spade foot. The fighting conch (Strombus alatus) does have the crown spikes, but there are a lot of gastropods that do.

http://www.gastropods.com/9/Shell_1329.html

This is a good example of why we should all strive to use latin names. The average aquarist doesn't realize that there are at least 95 species of conch, not to mention the over 150 genera of gastropods, many of which include animals that could be mistaken for conchs. This is a perfect opening for someone to come along and sell just about anything as a fighting conch. There have been some good discussions of conchs on RC as of late.

Edit - Tiger conch? That's bullshit, pardon my French. A search on Google specifically for "tiger conch" yielded four results, two pertinent (relating to molluscs) and neither from a reputable source. Are we talking about one of the south end LFSs here? Tell them to get you a scientific name. There's no way that's a conch.

christyf5 · #24 02-02-2004, 10:33 PM

Beth, I'd take it back if I were you. Get the real deal. Who knows: 1. what that thing really is and 2. what is gonna do in your tank. You might as well get what you paid for.

Christy

Aquattro · #25 02-03-2004, 12:52 AM

Just as an opposing view, I added one of those to my tank 2 years ago and it's behaved itself since them. I've found it on zoos before, but after it moved, the zoos were all intact. I've never seen it cause damage. Of course there are a couple of different kinds, but I never get rid of anything unless I see it being bad.

christyf5 · #26 02-03-2004, 12:56 AM

Nobody messes with my zoos!

Maybe I'll give him a second chance...if I can find him

StirCrazy · #27 02-03-2004, 01:05 AM

if some one could guarentee me something would only eat zooo;s I would take 10

Steve

Quinn · #28 02-03-2004, 01:21 AM

I have plenty of weird snails (even a few small cone snails) and of course my hitchhiker crabs - I'm the patron saint of hitchhiker critters. But I say prove a point to the LFS. Regardless of whether the thing is safe, I'd take it back.

EmilyB · #29 02-03-2004, 06:19 AM

I have some weird species of nassarius, and in researching that found out there are a pile of different nassarius snail species.

Mine don't do sand, they do rock, and are prolific as well. Detritus and carrion eaters like most (or all?) of the species.

I remember Brad's looking like mine, and someone mentioned whelk, but that would mean I have 50 whelks, so I don't think so..
hehe

Delphinus · #30 02-03-2004, 03:06 PM

By prolific do you mean they breed? Or are just very good at doing whatever it is that they do?

The only snail I've ever had successfully reproduce are stomatella. That and "maybe" cerith (but I can't tell for sure because it's impossible to do an accurate count to see if there are more than I purchased).