Orange Conch or snail I.D.?

[smoney]

Well, today I went to Manhattan Beach, Ca to go fishing. I was on the rocks getting some muscles and I found this conch or snail, and I just had to take it home. It is so cool and beautiful. I dont think you can tell from the picture, but it is seriously huge like 4" and I just wanted to know what kind it was?

I have it in a QT tank right now.

Its an orange slug with a white shell? any clue to what it is?

 

[Lev F.]

Im no expert, but it looks like a Horse Conch. Horse Conches get 2 feet in length and are voracious predators. I'm not entirely sure though.

 

[Chizad]

its a conch for sure. i had a few i collected from around my house that were about an inch each and the hermits wasted them after a month for the shells lol.

 

[LeslieH]

It's a kellett's whelk, Kellettia kellettii. The species ranges from about Point Conception down into Baja. It's a carnivore, and it won't last long in a tropical tank.

 

[The steven liu]

it won't last long in a tropical tank.

Agreed, the water temp of Northeastern Pacific is very cool and your critter will not sustain very long in a warm reef tank. I suggest you return it to its natural habitat for its longivity. Thanks.

 

[smoney]

I think I am going to the beach this weekend again, and I will return it. My dad wanted to use it as bait