What species of snail...

[projectmayhem16]

So I work at my lfs, and we got a shipment of corals in tonight. My supervisor showed me a snail he found on one of the corals. I probably shouldn't have, but I brought it home anyway to put in my 15 gallon soon-to-be reef tank. I can't determine whether it's an olive snail or a cone snail. It has a white shell with a mottled brown pattern, a large proboscus, red eye stalks, and is only about a quarter of an inch long. Has anyone seen anything like this? I'll try to get a picture of it up as soon as I can.

In the meantime, I'm going to keep my hands out of my tank.

 

[pagojoe]

Olive shells all have rounded shoulders below the spire, cone shell have a sharp shoulder or at least a pronounced shoulder that isn't smoothly rounded. If you can get a pic of it, I can tell you which. My bet: Conus sponsalis.

http://www.gastropods.com/8/Shell_738.html

Cheers,



Don

 

[mamagoose45]

That Fish Place by chance? I'm a transplant from the York area... Anyhow, I have no idea on the snail ID, but post a picture if you can. I'm amazed by the cone snails...they are such cool little creatures.

 

[projectmayhem16]

Shhh... actually yes... I try not to advertise that I work there though.

I woke up today and couldn't find the snail anywhere. I only have one fish and he's about three times the size of the snail, so I'm not too concerned about his well-being. I think the snail will starve without anything to eat after a while.

 

[pagojoe]

Cones can live several months without eating. If yours is Conus sponsalis, I suspect he will be looking for small worms in your tank to eat. It really shouldn't be hard to feed him. I think Venwu keeps that species, maybe he could give you some pointers.

Cheers,


Don

 

[projectmayhem16]

Well, it's been almost a week and I still haven't seen him since the night I put him in. I'm not assuming he's dead, but I'm still extra careful when moving things around in my tank.

 

[pagojoe]

If it's Conus sponsalis, he's not one of the dangerous species. They are pretty good hiders, and can live quite a long time without eating. I'm betting he's just hiding.



Don