Snails

[hutsler]

I have a question. how do you identify snails? I recently aquired a snail for free and it was huge it has this weird trunck like thing that he sticks out sorry i cant give a picture but if someone knows how to identify or maybe knows of a website id be really gratefull. i will probably get rid of him he has eaten 4 astrea snails and a crab but id really like to know what he is first. thanks for the help

 

[Lynden]

I have a question. how do you identify snails? I recently aquired a snail for free and it was huge it has this weird trunck like thing that he sticks out sorry i cant give a picture but if someone knows how to identify or maybe knows of a website id be really gratefull. i will probably get rid of him he has eaten 4 astrea snails and a crab but id really like to know what he is first. thanks for the help

The big "trunk" reminds me of a Cone Shell; which are colourful and conical.
Use caution if it is; many species are highly venomous and all are formidable predators. They will not hesitate to inject a wriggling hand, lightning-fast, with a lethal dose of venom.

-Lynden

 

[SkiFletch]

That sounds scary... I'd be inclined to think its a Conch of some sort. There are a couple species of conch which are predaceous, although I forget which ones. Somebody in my local club just got rid of one a month or two ago that was doing the same thing as you describe, eating inverts.

 

[hutsler]

thanks guys the trunk looks the same but it is not nearly as colorful. and the shell is shaped a bit different, but im taking him back to the fish store all the same and ill be sure to keep my hands off him just in case thanks

 

[Donya]

The predatory conches I've seen havn't had what I would call a trunk (they arn't true conches, so the anatomy is different). The main predatory "conch" I'm aware of is the horse conch:
http/animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site....jpg/medium.jpg

Strombus conches have a nose that looks and behaves like an elephant's trunk:
http/www.fishpalace.org/S_alatus_gregt.jpg
They don't eat live snails...but some species are scavengers that will munch on dead snails.

 

[smithrc]

just to offer an alternative...

Nassarius Snail...

http/www.lostmymarblz.com/2-5gal-nassarius.htm

we have them - they are great... 5s after feeding they stick their 'trunks' up and pop out of the gravel like moles

 

[hutsler]

thanks for all of the replies it looks very much like the horse conch however its foot is cream colored not pinkish and im not going to be getting any more astrea I will definatley take your suggestion on the nass

 

[Donya]

I have a book that states that some horse conches have bodies that turn lighter colored to tan as adults. I guess there is a lot of color variation between individuals. Just thought I would post up a picture of a Triton's Trumpet too, since they are similr-looking and have cream bodies. Very carnivorous and not safe for the average aquarium due to secretions that they have (highly toxic saliva I think I read?). Looks like they may only be echinoderm predators though, so that wouldn't match. They do have a "trunk" though it looks like:

http/www.bohol.ph/pics/large/tritoncrown.jpg