Crown Conch decided to go for live food

[Aaron1100us]

About two months ago, I got two cool looking snails that I found out were Florida Crown Conch snails. I did a search on here and found that they scavange for anything dead and also go after live snails. I didn't know what to do with them so I kept them and they would eat left overs from the feedings. I never saw them go after any other snails untill yesterday. I had two cool zebera snails and one of those crown conch snails went after, caught and ate my zebera snail. I should have know better but they are such awsome looking snails. I don't want to get rid of them but thought about putting them in my refugium when I get it going. Or should I just keep supplying them with snails? Does anyone else have any of these coo looking snails?


This is what it looks like.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=1456905

 

[MiNdErAsR]

Have a scientific name for it? Nothing in my books on "Crown Conch".

 

[ADS]

my (captive raised) fighting conch look very similar-how big is it? Adam

 

[Aaron1100us]

Its only about an inch long. I saw a shell of one of these in the biology department of the college that I work security at and it was listed as a Florida Crown Conch. I heard on here that they are really a type of Whelk but I'm not postitive on that.

 

[Snail Guy]

Hi Aaron,

Just referring to my literature, it's a popular shell among collectors. The scientific name is Melongina corona (family Melongenidae which is very closely related to the whelks, family Busyconidae). It's range includes Florida, the Gulf States and Mexico. It is a common intertidal species of the mudflats. The shell size is generally between 2 - 4" in length, it's quite variable in color and shape.

Visit: www.jaxshells.org/corona.htm
& www.jaxshells.org/restof.htm
Think you will find them entertaining and informative.

Cheers,
Bob

 

[Aaron1100us]

Cool, thanks for the sites, very interesting.