Another snail ID question???

[medic29]

I've had some snails....spawning in my tank for a while now. They are growing and are now large enough that I can post some pics. I'm curious what type of snails these are and if they are okay to keep.

Below are some pics....

Any ideas???? Are they safe??? Do you think my turbos mated???

Just curious.

 

[graveyardworm]

Looks like Trochus, some species of trochus are known to be successful breeders in aquaria. Here's an article. You've got a PM

 

[BrianPlankis]

That is a pretty snail, it could be a trochus, or possibly a Turbo species as well. It would be helpful if you could take one of them out of the water briefly and take a picture the same orientation as my avatar. Try to get the snail to completely close up when you take the picture so I can see what the operculum looks like.

What size are those? They look to be about the size of a dime or nickel.

Brian

 

[medic29]

They are smaller than a dime right now. Most are about half the size of a dime, some are getting close to the size of a dime.

I will try to get a different pic as requested in the next few days.

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9019779#post9019779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by medic29
They are smaller than a dime right now. Most are about half the size of a dime, some are getting close to the size of a dime.

I will try to get a different pic as requested in the next few days.

Cool, any idea how many of them you have and how often they spawn? Looking forward to your pic.

Brian

 

[medic29]

There are tons in my tank of various sizes/ages; probably well over a hundred or two.

It was odd several months ago that I had this "stuff" on my mag float; I took it to my LFS trying to figure out what it was and they didn't know; I then later found a pic of snail eggs and realized that is what was on my mag float. When I had told my LFS that was what it was they said that they wouldn't survive because they would most likely would be eaten. Apparently they did survive, or some of them did anyway.

 

[medic29]

more pics per request

more pics per request

Here are some more pics I took of one of the "guys", smaller than a dime, little bigger than a pencil eraser.

I placed a walnut there for size comparison

Finally,

I hope this helps with the ID.

They don't seem to hurt anything and are working to keep the tank clean. Just curious as to what was born in my tank and I'm raising? LOL

 

[graveyardworm]

Unfortunately I'm not the guy to id your little fellas to a species level, but I'm sure someone who can will jump in.

 

[BrianPlankis]

Two more questions:

1. Any idea where they came from?

2. Where are your corals and live rock from? Is it all from the Pacific ocean or do you have any atlantic species?

Brian

 

[medic29]

Brian,

I really don't know where they came from. My live rock, most of it came from my LFS, but they didn't tell me where it is from. I did get some from a local reefer, but I believe I had the snails before then; the same with my corals. I believe I had the snails before I got any corals from anywhere else besides my LFS. They stated they get their coral from overseas. They have told me, but I have forgotten.

I could ask, if that would help.

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9027700#post9027700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by medic29
Brian,

I really don't know where they came from. My live rock, most of it came from my LFS, but they didn't tell me where it is from. I did get some from a local reefer, but I believe I had the snails before then; the same with my corals. I believe I had the snails before I got any corals from anywhere else besides my LFS. They stated they get their coral from overseas. They have told me, but I have forgotten.

I could ask, if that would help.

Rick,

The next time you visit the LFS asking them where they get their liverock would be helpful. Good to know that you think it was a LR hitchhiker and you had them before any other LR or coral addition. Even knowing your LR came from the Pacific would be helpful as there are a couple fo atlantic species that are still possibilities.

My guess would be a Trochid snail, but some details are hard to determine without additional pictures or work by a microscope.

Sending you a PM.

Brian

 

[medic29]

What additional pics do you need? Microscope I could do, but wouldn't know what I am needing to look at.

I'll send a friend of mine an e-mail, who manages the LFS and ask him where the LR comes from.

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9029274#post9029274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by medic29
What additional pics do you need? Microscope I could do, but wouldn't know what I am needing to look at.

I'll send a friend of mine an e-mail, who manages the LFS and ask him where the LR comes from.

OK, I'll try my best to describe what I would like to see, I borrowed your pictures and highlighted points 2-5 as I can't think of exactly how to describe them in words only:

1. I need to see the height of the snails shell (how tall the shell is), it probably would be easiest to put it on the edge of a table and take a picture from the side. It would be even better if the opening of the shell is facing the camera and the snail is closed up.

2. I would like to see this area of the shell from the side (similar to #1), but slightly from above, so I can see if the aperture of the shell meets the top of the shell flush, or if there is a groove.

3. Try to get a picture of the pit in the bottom of the shell from directly above and in clear focus. If you get it with snail closed it it will be even more helpful.

4 and 5. If you can get pictures of these areas in clear focus then that would be helpful. When you try to get bullet points 1-3 above you'll probably get 4 and 5 as well, so I don't need 5 pictures. You already have a pretty clear shot of #4, so don't waste too much (or any time) on that.

Assuming your snail is from the Pacific ocean, if we went on probabilities and range, your snail could possibly be:

http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_2412.html

That link also has great pictures of the angles I would like to see from your snails. What is even better is one of the people that supplied photos to that website is one of the people that will look at the snails in Houston

Brian

 

[medic29]

Requested pics - VERY PIC INTENSE

Requested pics - VERY PIC INTENSE

Okay, I am going to post some more pics of another one of my baby snails in hopes to get an ID. Here we go!!!

Pics of the top - notice the coraline....

 

[medic29]

Now some pics of the bottom....

 

[medic29]

Now a bunch of side shots...

 

[medic29]

 

[medic29]

I know there are a lot of pics, I just hope this allows whoever to be able to identify these little guys roaming around in my tank and sump.

Any questions, please let me know.

Thanks

 

[graveyardworm]

Holy cow, ask and ye shall recieve. Very nice.

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9046897#post9046897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by graveyardworm
Holy cow, ask and ye shall recieve. Very nice.

No kidding! Fabulous pictures Rick (side note, what camera?).

Anyway, those show the features much better, but there are a couple of curious differences between my guess above and your pictures.

1. The shell is a considerably flatter than the shells of Monilea callifera and contains less grooves on the top.

2. The ridges appear to be more pronounced on the underside of the shell.

I'm afraid I'll have to admit defeat on this ID attempt. The best I can do is:

Very likely to be a Trochid snail (most Trochid snails are "reef safe" in that they like to graze algae, bacterial and diatom films), although some larger ones will knock over corals and such. Yours obviously don't get that big, so I would say it is safe to have in your tank and enjoy it!

It could possibly be a Monilea sp. snail, but I wouldn't bet money on that.

I've sent you a PM, unless someone else chimes in with experience with this snail, then your best bet for a firmer ID is with a snail identification expert.

Brian