Snail / Conch ID Help

[halcyonism]

I have done quite a bit a searching with no luck, hoping someone here will know what this is and if it is reef safe or not.

Thanks!

 

[pagojoe]

That's a fabulous example of a juvenile melongenid, either a Melongena or Pugilina species (Crown Conchs). They are predatory on other molluscs, so you can expect it to eat the other snails that are in the tank with it. Great for a species tank, but may eat the clean up crew in your display tank.

I think yours is Pugilina morio, but it could also be either a small Melongena patula that hasn't overgrown the spire, or even an odd Melongena melongena in the same condition (less likely, since they are usually somewhat overgrown by that size). Behavior is the same, as they are closely related, just from different areas.

http://www.gastropods.com/1/Shell_3271.shtml
http://www.gastropods.com/1/Shell_1111.shtml
http://www.gastropods.com/1/Shell_1011.shtml

Cheers,



Don

 

[halcyonism]

Thanks so much for the quick response, even if it wasn't the one I was looking for. The LFS just gave it to me with some other snails I purchased stating that it arrived with a batch of turbo snails and they didn't know what to do with it... now I know why! Off to the sump he goes...

Thanks again!

 

[victorcan]

Man I just had a simular thread with the same thing mine was about 2-3" and I added some new turbo snails and caught him in the act of devouring one of em (was pretty cool) but figured what killed all my clams wasnt the trigger I blamed but this lil devil.. Mine was banished to the sump as well and I just got him a new friend a mantis shrimp.. aint karma a ***** lol