Keeping the largest Snail in the Americas

hrdneglcry

Premium Member
Not only is the Horse Conch the largest Conch in the Americas (reaching 24" in length) it is also one of the largest univalves in the world.
This conch is a predator of other Mollusks. To feed mine I started with Mexican Turbo snails. But I do like Mexican Tubos. So I did some more research, and found that this Conch also eats clams.
I am happy to say that my Horse Conch is eating a clam as I am typing this post.
I prefer feeding him the clams as they are less expensive, they are more food for him than a Turbo Snail snack, and it helps me keep my turbos longer.
The Horse Conch's skin is orange!
Clams are filter feeders, and it is said that without the proper feeding that they will starve to death.
For whatever reason one of my clams surfaced from beneath the sand today, and opened his shell up. I came upon the scene as my Spiney Lobster had his legs in the clam's shell, eating the clam inside. My Horse Conch was fast on the scene.
I thought that this might be the chance I had been waiting for, and I am very happy to report that the Horse Conch entered the clams shell, and enveloped it.
It eats mexican Turbos by enveloping them at their opening, and trapping them in their shells while he eats them. The conch is very strong as you might imagine if you are familiar at all with snails.
 
Re: Keeping the largest Snail in the Americas

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8717118#post8717118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hrdneglcry
Not only is the Horse Conch the largest Conch in the Americas (reaching 24" in length) it is also one of the largest univalves in the world.
This conch is a predator of other Mollusks. To feed mine I started with Mexican Turbo snails. But I do like Mexican Tubos. So I did some more research, and found that this Conch also eats clams.
I am happy to say that my Horse Conch is eating a clam as I am typing this post.
I prefer feeding him the clams as they are less expensive, they are more food for him than a Turbo Snail snack, and it helps me keep my turbos longer.
The Horse Conch's skin is orange!
Clams are filter feeders, and it is said that without the proper feeding that they will starve to death.
For whatever reason one of my clams surfaced from beneath the sand today, and opened his shell up. I came upon the scene as my Spiney Lobster had his legs in the clam's shell, eating the clam inside. My Horse Conch was fast on the scene.
I thought that this might be the chance I had been waiting for, and I am very happy to report that the Horse Conch entered the clams shell, and enveloped it.
It eats mexican Turbos by enveloping them at their opening, and trapping them in their shells while he eats them. The conch is very strong as you might imagine if you are familiar at all with snails.

wow, sounds cool! hope you can post some pics for us..thanks!
 
Here is a four, or 5 second video link in my photobucket of the Conch finding a turbo snail.
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h80/hrdneglcry/?action=view&current=PB030155.flv
Here's a 6 second video of him on the glass.
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h80/hrdneglcry/?action=view&current=PB020156.flv
Here's a one minute video of him eating a mexican Turbo. There is actually a second Turbo on top of the one being eaten. The hermit also wanted to get into the show..
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h80/hrdneglcry/?action=view&current=PB030156.flv
 
PIC

PIC

In case anybody is interested this is my Horse Conch eating a Clam. I think that he has a little bit of himself poured into the clam shell. He eats as he goes. He has a good hold of him. The last time he ate one he started like this then eventually bowled the shell open, and ate it clean. The crabs of course closed in when they smelled the food for their fair share.
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h80/hrdneglcry/?action=view&current=HCC_Page000.jpg

The reason for the question marks in the post below is because I was trying to put the PIC right into this post, and I sent a test fire post that I did not mean to send. So this post only had one letter in it before I just edited it.
 
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I am not sure on what kind of clam it is. I bought it at the LFS. The one that he already ate I think was dying from starvation. My Spiny Blue Lobster started in on the dying clam, and then the Conch plowed into it, and devoured it. This clam in the new PIC is a tough little bugger.
Sal Amato...if you liked that video check out this one.......
This is a different video. Notice the foot of the Turbo on the front glass of the tank.
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h80/hrdneglcry/?action=view&current=77777.flv
 
Hose Conch Meals

Hose Conch Meals

Here are a few things that my Horse Conch made meals of, including a smaller Horse Conch. I try to save the shells. To get an idea of how much he is eating.
p11301402.jpg
 
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