Whelk or Nassarius snail ?

M

mastou

New member
I just found these snails in my aquarium, and don't know if they are reef-safe?
I have a hard time telling if the snails are Welks or Nassarius, and since I fear for my clam's safty, I would like to get an ID.

111238snail-1__Small_.jpg


111238snail-2__Small_.jpg


111238snail-4__Small_.jpg


111238snail-6__Small_.jpg


/Magnus
 
take a look at this from melev's site. it looks like your guy meets some of the criteria ( tattooed looking stalk, second to last pic can kind of see a small piece of shell on the tail ) the color comparison doesn't match but that's no guarantee.

can you provide more info, it says that they are slow movers ( i don't know if your familiar with nassarius snail, but they can really move ) and they don't like to submerge themselves beneath the sandbed ( nassarius love to bury themselves ), any of that seem familiar?

HTH
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8847704#post8847704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by a4twenty
take a look at this from melev's site. it looks like your guy meets some of the criteria ( tattooed looking stalk, second to last pic can kind of see a small piece of shell on the tail ) the color comparison doesn't match but that's no guarantee.

can you provide more info, it says that they are slow movers ( i don't know if your familiar with nassarius snail, but they can really move ) and they don't like to submerge themselves beneath the sandbed ( nassarius love to bury themselves ), any of that seem familiar?

HTH
Click to expand...

I am familiar with the ID page from melev, and my snails meets some of the criteria:

1)They mostly crawl either on the glass or on the stones, I rarely see the on the sand

2)Regarding the speed they are not very fast, I had some Stomatella some time ago (I think my shrimps ate them) and the Stomatella were much faster.

3)and as you mentioned there seems to be a small piece fo shell at the tail, but not at all enough to give a watertight seal. Further more they have not at all shown interest for my clam and I added the clam about a week ago.

So I am not at all sure, and therefore hoped that some one could give me a positive ID :)

/Magnus
 
Just for next time :)
Are there any sure way to distinguish between Whelks or Conchs and Columbellids?

/Magnus
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8876954#post8876954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicksReefs
Conchs and Columbellids

whelks
Click to expand...

Thanks, the last link was new to me :)

So would it be safe to say that you could identify a Columbellid by the shape of its shell, the lack of a true siphonal canal and a lack of a visible eye of the end of the stalks?

Further more I was a bit confused about the piece of shell on the foot as I have read that whelks have that but don't recall it being mentioned for columbellids (see earlier pic).

Thanks, Magnus
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8878560#post8878560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mastou

So would it be safe to say that you could identify a Columbellid by the shape of its shell, the lack of a true siphonal canal and a lack of a visible eye of the end of the stalks?

Further more I was a bit confused about the piece of shell on the foot as I have read that whelks have that but don't recall it being mentioned for columbellids (see earlier pic).

Thanks, Magnus
Click to expand...

Any better ways to ID a Columbellid snail or is the mentioned characteristics the best and what about the piece of shell on the foot - anybody seen this before and is it normal for Columbellids?

/Magnus
 
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