Conconch ID and collection tip

[jimmyhof]

I am on a key near Sarasota FL on the Gulf and there are a lot of (chicken)egg sized conchs along the shore. Just wanted to know what species is abundant here and if they are suitable for a reef tank.

aside from ethical opinions about collecting, are there any laws or tips (How to transport) that you might suggest if this is a suitable species. I know it is hard without a picture, but some one who knows the area would probably know the species becuase of there abundance.

Thanks

 

[pagojoe]

If they look like this, they are Strombus alatus, and are good algae eaters, and are fine in a tank if you have enough algae for them to eat:

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

If they look like this, they are Melongena corona, the "Crown Conch," which isn't really a conch, but a predatory snail which will do fine in your tank but will kill any other snails you have in there:

http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_1010.html

Cheers,



Don

 

[charlesr1958]

Check with your fish and game department as Florida has some pretty strict laws about collecting, what little is allowed to be collected also requires that you purchase a saltwater fishing license if memory serves me right.

Chuck

 

[jimmyhof]

Yes they are the Strombus Alatus. Thanks. What is the best way to transport and how much sandbed do they need to sustain.

 

[pagojoe]

Jimmy,

I've had the best luck transporting them wrapped in a wet towel, with the towel inside a trash bag. Leave them in the water as long as you can before you have to get ready to leave, then wet the towel in sea water. They'll be good for a fairly long layover, and can survive almost a full 24 hours like that.

The don't need too much sand, since they mostly only use the sand bed to hide in. There probably won't be any rays cruising your tank, so they shouldn't really have to hide. I suspect you'll need to supplementally feed them, maybe nori or some other algae-type food, unless you have a good crop already growing in your tank.

Cheers,



Don