Is this a whelk, yay or nay?

[GHsaltie]

I pulled this one out of my new tank this morning but I'm unsure of what it is. It's a lot bigger than the confirmed whelk that I had a few days ago and looks different too. I've also read that whelks are supposed to have "eye spots" on the short antenna things, but I dont see anything. It has a pretty pattern on it though, I hope it's not another whelk....

 

[Lionfish Lair]

That looks pretty whelky to me. I would keep it out.

If you could flip it over, tap it to make the snail go in and take another photo, we might be able to get a more specific name for you.

 

[jedimasterben]

Looks like one.

 

[GHsaltie]

I tried my best but it didn't want to go into its shell, very stubborn.

How do you tell if it's a whelk or not? And if it is a whelk what is a good way I can "dispose" of it? I don't want bad critters in my tank but I feel bad just tossing them out.

 

[GHsaltie]

Ok I know this isn't a snail but I didnt want to make another thread and figured someone would see it here. I just spotted what looks to be an anemone of some sort, bad or good I don't know. It's still very small and is in a shadowed spot so I can't get a good picture, but it's very green! Any ideas?

It's tucked up under the ledge, in the shadows. You can see it's little tentacles sticking out and while watching it I saw it curling up occasionally, catching food I guess?

 

[jedimasterben]

Can't tell anything at all from that pic, sorry. For the snail you can just toss it outside, crush it, freeze it, etc.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Was there only 2 antenna? Check out Chaetopterid/Spionids.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

That's a dirty big whelk.....

 

[GHsaltie]

I tossed him into the toilet, sorry whelk. I tried to get some more pics of the mystery anemone, but its in a really bad spot for pictures. Its very small, maybe 1/4 inch across when fully extended. Its tentacles are long and smooth, and I even had both of my sisters look at it and they agree that its very, very green in color. It got spooked by me changing the lights so its retracted in the last two pics. And no its not either of those that you mentioned Lionfish, I counted at least 13 appendages. It doesn't look to me like aiptasia or majano, but I'm still new and learning so it could be. I'm really hoping its not a pest because its so pretty. I just did my first water change on my tank today so the water is a little bit clouded up, Ill try to get some better pics later today or tomorrow.

 

[PurpleTreeSpiders]

Too hard to see really, but majano can be very bright green. Had one in the 90 and was a little sad to learn it was a pesky guy since he was quite lovely.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Like literally in the toilet?! That's not good for your toilet.

 

[GHsaltie]

Is there something wrong with the toilet? I guess I didn't really give it a second thought, is there something with saltwater that could mess it up? Oh gosh, now I'm going to be paranoid I killed my plumbing.....

 

[NanoDJS]

I have tossed everything in the toilet for years now and no bad issues .Obviously if its bigger than the flush opening ..... dont do it lol but otherwise a lil snail guts wont hurt the ol sludge chute

 

[Lionfish Lair]

It's not a good practice.... ask the little plastic part that belonged to my wet mop.

 

[Chibils]

Can you perhaps hit it with a powerful flash light or something?

 

[GHsaltie]

Can you perhaps hit it with a powerful flash light or something?

That's what I'm going to try next once I get a better flashlight. I tried it with a small one I have, but that flashlight is junk it's so dull. I was going to take some pictures after the lights turned off for the night with the small flashlight but the mystery critter had retracted. It seems to be kind of sensitive to light changes because it also retracts whenever I turn the blues off or change the intensity.

 

[GHsaltie]

So I guess we'll never know about the mysterious green thing. By the time I got around to buying a new flashlight it appears to have been eaten by something. I came home from work a couple days ago and all but one tentacle and part of the base looked to be eaten. The following day it was completely gone and no sign of in that spot or anywhere else. Oh well, it was pretty while it lasted.