Snail ID?

[Flamehawk]

Can anyone tell me what kind of snail this is? It has a completely smooth shell and likes to bury itself in the sand, but sticks its operculum out of the sand while moving around.
I'm fairly certain it is a reef-safe algae/detritus eater, thought it was a Tongan fighting conch.

Thanks!

 

[racrumrine]

It looks like a type of cowrie to me.

Best of luck,

Roy

 

[Javeo]

Looks like a cone shell to me! Be careful could be dangerous

 

[graveyardworm]

It is really cool looking, but until you get an id I would err on the side of caution.

 

[pagojoe]

Nope, this one won't hurt you, it's an Olive shell (probably Oliva reticularis). It might make you sick if you ate it, there are reports of poisoning in humans due to comsuming olives. Also, the slime from the foot will numb your face if you get it on your hand and then wipe your mouth.... I'd always heard they were scavengers, and knew that you could trap them by baiting with carrion, but... they will catch live snails and eat them, and might possibly catch crustaceans, although I never witnessed that. I had a related species catch and eat five Strombus gibberulus gibbosus, although it took him several days to catch them all. It's amazing to watch them in pursuit of prey, they flap the edges of the foot and literally "fly" across the bottom of an aquarium.

http://www.gastropods.com/3/Shell_1203.html

I'd keep him if I were you, and didn't mind the possibility of losing a few snails...

Cheers,



Don

 

[joejoe1055]

yeah i got 1 in my tank also
a friend ordered several a few years back
not sure the true name though they where just labeled "sand sifting snails"