fan worms eaten by sand shifters?

[brimil]

I am just starting in the hobby and have been adding items to my tank. I have 2 sand shifters (snails) and with a placing acouple of fan worms (on a rock) into my tank, My snails went berserk and attacked them. I do not have fish yet. So I am thinking I may not have enough food for them? Or are the worms a delicacy for the snails?
brian

 

[LeslieH]

Fanworms are just nicely packaged irresistable chunks of protein to many predators and opportunistic species no matter how well they're fed..

 

[brimil]

Thanks
I found out that the snails are Nassarius snails and should place the featherdusters up high on the rocks.
I also bought some clowns, so maybe there will be leftovers for the snails instead of the dusters

 

[graveyardworm]

Nassarius snails are generally carrion eaters, meaning dead stuff. Mine have never bothered living tissue. I dont have any larger type fanworms, but I do have tons of small ones and my nassarius have never bothered them. Are you sure you have nassarius, and not some type of predatory whelks. Maybe some other people will chime in with more experiences of their own.

 

[graveyardworm]

Some quotes from R. Shimeks Marine Invertebrates regarding Nassarius "Obligate scavangers on meaty foods. Will not eat detritus or attack healthy animals." and " Specialized to eat carrion, not live flesh they will rapidly consume leftover food."