Snail ID please

[charlesr1958]

Having finally found a species that will consume red filamentous algae, I need an ID on this species to properly name it. Thanks.

Chuck

 

[pagojoe]

I'm 98% sure it's Tectus pyramis. They get big, about 100mm tall and about that wide. 1% chance it's Tectus conus, 1% it's a subadult Trochus niloticus. The base colors of the last two are red and white, T. pyramis should be beigish brown under the coralline.

http://www.gastropods.com/9/Shell_1689.html

Cheers,



Don

 

[charlesr1958]

Thanks Don, you just saved me a lot of time and an error. Now I just have to get back into the water and go find another dozen or so...lol

Chuck

 

[pagojoe]

Ha, glad to help. I usually found them attached to the sides of huge coral heads in snorkeling depth water or on the hard reef face in comparatively shallow water. Good Luck!


Don

 

[charlesr1958]

I hope to collect more soon as I plan to try breeding them or at least, send some to the states to where others can give breeding a shot. Would be nice to get a much larger variety of herbivore snails into the hobby to match the variety of algae that becomes a problem when nothing available will eat it.

Chuck