Clam Predator or Harmless?

[davelin315]

Found this tiny snail on my clam today, and was wondering if it is a predator or harmless. It's a spiral shell, long and pointy, and I got a couple of pictures. It's not much bigger than the point of a finishing nail.

 

[davelin315]

Another picture

 

[davelin315]

Here's a closeup, don't know if it will work or not, though.

 

[davelin315]

closeup comes up blank.... but hopefully the other pictures are enough to id.

 

[jim norris]

Dave,
Great pictures. This little snail is a major pest!!! You DO NOT want them in your clam tank. I check my clams weekly fro these pests. If I find some I usaully remove the clams to the sink for a toothbrush cleaning. Removing the clam from your tank does not hurt it.
Jim

 

[davelin315]

Thanks Jim, I removed the offender from my tank. Hopefully, it's the only one. It was on a new clam I got and I noticed it the first day, took a picture the next day, and pulled it out after finding out it was bad. It's sitting on top of my tank in a small container, when I get the chance, Ron Shimek asked me to send it to him, so I'll do that. I've been keeping an eye out for others in the mean time, and if I see any more, they'll be removed immediately. This one seemed to be attached to the shell just under the mantle, does that seem like their usual routine?

 

[jim norris]

Dave,
Exactly! At night they come out from underneath the clam to pray on the outter edge of the clam's mantle. During the day they go back underneath the clam and so not to get eaten themselves by things like a sixline wrasse.
Jim

 

[MiNdErAsR]

Check at night as these pests are nocturnal. Also carefully inspect the scutes for egg cases. They look like gelatinous masses.