Nassarius Snails Predatory?

[dclaghorn]

I was just wondering. I keep seeing emerald crab remains about the tank. My nassarius snails come out of the sand a the speed of sound when I introduce brine or mysis shrimp at feeding time. This afternoon, I saw a nassarius sitting on top of an upside down emerald crab, presumably sucking the guts out like Ozzy Osbourne on a bat (yeah, I know it's a myth, but it gives a cool graphic and disgusting image) :rollface:

I have found one web site that says that nassarius snails are whelks and predatory. Anyone else have similar experience(s)?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[greenbean36191]

Nassarius are whelks and some members of the family are predators. Nassarius aren't. They're almost all strictly scavengers. An upside down crab is a dead crab and you would expect to see the snail eating it. The same goes for other meaty food like brine or mysis that settles.

 

[malnurs]

i have never had a problem with mine being predatory either. however, i think that they must taste good cause mine always get eaten for some reason. my hermits just love them.

 

[dclaghorn]

Hmmmm... Even this evening, after diner, I took my daughter over to go look at our new linckia star, and there was a nassarius, working over a hermit crab... )I've got like 7 of the buggers

 

[Hogfish77]

I know of someone who got some of the larger variety Nassarius that tried to go after his clams. I bought the regular smaller ones just to be safe. So far so good. Pretty coOl how they go inside the sandbed and out.

 

[greenbean36191]

Could you get a picture of your snail? There are a few predatory snails that are often misidentified as Nassarius.

 

[pv1191]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10954967#post10954967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dclaghorn
Hmmmm... Even this evening, after diner, I took my daughter over to go look at our new linckia star, and there was a nassarius, working over a hermit crab... )I've got like 7 of the buggers

It;s been the opposite for me. Most of my hermits are sporting shiny new snail shells!

 

[malnurs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10962741#post10962741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pv1191
It;s been the opposite for me. Most of my hermits are sporting shiny new snail shells!

ditto. my crabs got pretty shells too!