Snail (mollusk) ID, please

[hdtran]

Hitchhiker from Gulf of Mexico aquacultured live rock, about 3/4" long. Caught him on the glass, so you can see both the snail and its reflection.

Any ID, please? (Other than 'snail in a pointy brown/black shell with a gray proboscis 8) ')

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I usually don't go past the first couple of pages but happened to see this.
This is a Neogastropod, at the moment ID unknown but give me a little time and I'll try to track it down for you.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Fishdude]

I had some of these in my tank. I was told they are a kind of whelk. They are scavengers and carnivores. I read that they have a proboscis with a radula which they use to bore holes in other shelled inverts. One of my other snails got wedged between the glass and some netting I had in the tank one day. One of the whelks made a quick meal of it. I don't know how dangerous they are to other inverts but made me wary of them after that.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes it could be a Whelk but it could also be a Conch. :? Let me work on this a bit. If it's a Whelk we cann't be a all inclusive as the different species aren't prey specific. Some feed on Clams others Snails, etc.



Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

I still can't rule out a genus of Strombus ( Conch ) at the moment and what's swaying me towards this is that this came from aquacultured rock from the Gulf of Mexico. If possible can you get a sharper anterior ( headshot ) pic, posterior ( rear ) and a shot of the Arpeture ( opening of the shell ) of the critter ?

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[hdtran]

I'll do my best, David!

I'm not sure that I know which end is the head or tail, but since you want both, I'll get you both!

Hy

 

[Anonymous]

I got the same rock and snails, ALL my other snails such as trocus, nerite, turbo and such died mysteriously. Pull them out and put them in the sump.

 

[Anonymous]

See if this looks like your little critter.

I'm slowly getting my old pics and Sites back here's a link:


http://home.earthlink.net/~cigar320/_uimages/mol5.JPG

If so your critter is a Strombus alatus ( Fighting Conch, Florida Fighting Conch ). They grow to about 4" and the juvenile's shell is different than the adult.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Baianotang]

?

 

[hdtran]

David,

Your pictured shell has more rugosity than my snail.

Here are a couple of bottom shots. I can't get him (her?) to pose for head-on or tail-on shots...

I guess I don't know the difference between a snail, a conch, or a whelk, and whether I should be concerned 8)

Thanks!

Hy

 

[Anonymous]

David,

Your pictured shell has more rugosity than my snail.

Here are a couple of bottom shots. I can't get him (her?) to pose for head-on or tail-on shots...

I guess I don't know the difference between a snail, a conch, or a whelk, and whether I should be concerned 8)


Hy

Pic #2 is a great shot though it doesn't help in the ID. I'm still leaning towards Strombus alatus. It isn't easy to discern the differences between some genera, species of Mollusks so don't feel alone.
btw If you haven't had any loses in your tank as far as other snails, corals etc. in the time you've had this critter I wouldn't be too concerned.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[hdtran]

No losses in the tank. It is a scavenger, though; attracted to dead pieces of shrimp/fish. So, for now, it gets to stay.

Thanks!

Hy