ID please, Nassarius or Whelk snail?

[tercel94]

Hi all,

I have read a few of similar threads about nassarius vs whelk but can’t id mines. I just got them from eBay and probably got Whelks instead of actual Nassarius. Please let me know what you think. Seller advertised them as Nassarius but…

 

[tercel94]

 

[Reeferjunkie]

https://reefs.com/2011/07/19/beware-the-whelk/ found this article

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Really hard to tell, despite all the pics. One way to tell is to look at the little piece of "shell" that closes over the snail. If it's attached to the tail (and gets dragged behind the snail as it moves), it's probably not a mud whelk/dog whelk. The operculum on the mud whelks is actually attached to the shell.
That being said, just because they aren't mud whelks doesn't mean they are safe. Almost all nassarius are carnivorous. There are 2 types of nassarius that are known to only eat carrion (dead flesh) -- n. vibex and n. distortus (also called super Tongan nassarius). There are many other varieties of nassarius being sold in the hobby that have various levels of "safeness". If they don't bury themselves in the sand, if they spend a lot of time on the glass or rocks, and definitely if you start losing other snails, take them out.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Another feature of the bad ones is a snout that looks "tattooed", although this is not always definitive (mud whelks have them but safe snails may have patterning as well). From what I can see, yours have clear/white snouts, so that's one point in favor of them being safe.

 

[tercel94]

Really hard to tell, despite all the pics. One way to tell is to look at the little piece of "shell" that closes over the snail. If it's attached to the tail (and gets dragged behind the snail as it moves), it's probably not a mud whelk/dog whelk. The operculum on the mud whelks is actually attached to the shell.
That being said, just because they aren't mud whelks doesn't mean they are safe. Almost all nassarius are carnivorous. There are 2 types of nassarius that are known to only eat carrion (dead flesh) -- n. vibex and n. distortus (also called super Tongan nassarius). There are many other varieties of nassarius being sold in the hobby that have various levels of "safeness". If they don't bury themselves in the sand, if they spend a lot of time on the glass or rocks, and definitely if you start losing other snails, take them out.

Thanks a lot for the explanation. The operculum on these ones are on the body, so they drag them when they’re moving so at least one point on my favor hehehe The snouts are almost clear as in the pictures but have little markings maybe. I will keep an eye on the ones in the tank. Fortunately for me I don’t have other snails or clams so will see. Thanks again

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thanks a lot for the explanation. The operculum on these ones are on the body, so they drag them when they’re moving so at least one point on my favor hehehe The snouts are almost clear as in the pictures but have little markings maybe. I will keep an eye on the ones in the tank. Fortunately for me I don’t have other snails or clams so will see. Thanks again

Do you mind sharing where you purchased them from?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like nassarius. The snout of the whelk will be marble patterned and also the whelk will have a flay blade like tail whereas the nassarius will not

 

[tercel94]

Do you mind sharing where you purchased them from?

500 Nassarius Saltwater Snails Fish Tank Aquarium Filter Sump Cleaner | eBay

Then it’s basically dump them in. The Nassarius Snail is a little snail with a big appetite. The Nassarius Snail is a small scavenger with an oval, spiral shell that resembles an olive pit. The Nassarius Snail likes to burrow in the sand, usually with its long, tube-like siphon protruding from...

www.ebay.com

 

[WheatToast]

Looks like the Eastern mudsnail, Ilyanassa obsoleta. These are coldwater snails that consume beneficial microinvertebrates and other snails . Not reef safe. They also seem to be somewhat notorious for making their way into eBay as “reef” snails.

 

[WheatToast]

Found this too :
Ilyanassa obsoleta Snails WARNING!!!
“Ilyanassa obsolieta Snails, AKA Mud Dog Snails, harbor a parasite, a type of Fluke that when released into the Reef Tank environment cause swimmer's itch, also known as "cercarial dermatitis," is a rash caused by the swimming larvae of certain types of flatworms, called schistosomes, burrowing into a person's skin. The larvae are actually looking for birds, and end up in humans by mistake.”

 

[Rtaylor]

Looks like the Eastern mudsnail, Ilyanassa obsoleta. These are coldwater snails that consume beneficial microinvertebrates and other snails . Not reef safe. They also seem to be somewhat notorious for making their way into eBay as “reef” snails.

Agree, here’s a good write up on them. The OP’s link shows the seller is from North Carolina as well…..further increasing the likelihood

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php

 

[tercel94]

Wow… thanks all for the info. They are going out of the thank and hope they haven’t released any bad stuff.
Thanjs