Another snail ID

[MIKE NY]

this is a local species I collected off the south shore last summer that I'm having trouble finding an ID. I got two for my fuge because I have a DSB there and they couldn't be any trouble until I knew exactly what they were..they are large..shell is 1" and when fully out close to 3"...great sand stirrers( like bulldozers) rarely seen on the surface so I took some shots when one was........

 

[6stringpenguin]

When I first started my tank, I tried 2 of those after I went out clamming for the day and they came up in my rake. Of the 2 of them, the smaller one died in about a week, but the larger one lived for about a year. I think the larger one only died because I kept trying to treat Ich in my tank with a snake-oil that apparently wasn't as invert friendly as it had indicated. The name escapes me for now, but unless you have an extremely mature sandbed, I would just let them go, they were also pretty shy and don't come out often enough to stare at for long periods of time. Good luck though. They are pretty.

 

[bigsink]

looks like a moon snail

 

[MIKE NY]

thanks guys..it's a moon snail and it doesn't play well with others..luckily there aren't any other snails with them...
http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s421.htm

 

[Justjoe]

Mike,
Watch any clams too, they really like to eat them. Great idea for a sand sifter, it is impressive watching them cruise around.

 

[MIKE NY]

thanks Joe....I kinda figured they liked clams because I got them near a clam bed and 6string confirmed it when he wrote he got his on a bed.....just have to throw in a soup clam once in awhile.....