snail help

[rogergolf66]

what is this?
is it safe?
what does it eat?

Roger

click on my little red house to see picture

 

[pagojoe]

There are several muricids that look similar to that, and those are predatory. There is also a Coralliophila that looks similar, and it's a coral eater. But... my best guess is that it's a Peristernia species, in the family Fasciolariidae. If it is, it will have a red/maroon/purple animal, and it will be predatory on SOMETHING in your tank, although I'm not sure what it will eat. Most likely, it will eat other small molluscs. Same if it's a muricid.

If you can get a clear shot of the apertural side, with the animal withdrawn, I can probably give you a positive ID.

Cheers,



Don

 

[pagojoe]

As I blew up your photo and examined it, I saw that your snail has some unusual markings on the ribs. It looks very much like Latirus balicasagensis. Did it come from the Philippines?

http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_9645.html

Cheers,




Don