Nassarius?

[Hitachi]

So I just watched this snail attack and eat a new astrea I just put in the tank to add to the cuc. When I bought it, I was told it was a nassarius snail, and was under the impression that they where not aggressive. Do I have the wrong snail, or will they in fact continue to attack and kill my other snails?

 

[ichthyogeek]

I've definitely heard of predatory whelks that go after snails, but it looks a lot like a Nassa to me. Are you sure the Astraea wasn't already dead/dying when you added it?

 

[GoVols]

Reef Central:
"The one difference between whelks and nassarius snails is that a whelk does not glide across the sand or glass like a nassarius snail and it is also much slower. The whelk reminds me much of a mechanical bull in the way it moves. Sort of bucking rocking jerky movements. Whelks also sleep in corals, so if you find a nassarius snail napping in a hammer coral or stylophora coral, be very wary."


Melevsreef:

Whelk versus Nassarius | Melev's Reef

www.melevsreef.com

 

[Hitachi]

I've definitely heard of predatory whelks that go after snails, but it looks a lot like a Nassa to me. Are you sure the Astraea wasn't already dead/dying when you added it?

looks like a Nassa to me as well, that’s why I was baffled. Not sure about the dead or dying, it was on my glass going to town. I also watched it head after another one before I dropped it in my sump for a time out. I put it back in and did a heavy feeding, and it seems to be leaving the snails alone for now. Only thing I could think is maybe it was just hungry, since I have been doing light feedings trying to get pho’s down and fight a GHA outbreak.

 

[GoVols]

looks like a Nassa to me as well, that’s why I was baffled. Not sure about the dead or dying, it was on my glass going to town. I also watched it head after another one before I dropped it in my sump for a time out. I put it back in and did a heavy feeding, and it seems to be leaving the snails alone for now. Only thing I could think is maybe it was just hungry, since I have been doing light feedings trying to get pho’s down and fight a GHA outbreak.

If it's eating snails I'd take it back and buy the real deal from Live Aquaria, some species (that look identical) are hosts for flukes.

JM... 2 cents

 

[KJ]

So I just watched this snail attack and eat a new astrea I just put in the tank to add to the cuc. When I bought it, I was told it was a nassarius snail, and was under the impression that they where not aggressive. Do I have the wrong snail, or will they in fact continue to attack and kill my other snails?

Nassasrius snail. Good CUC.

 

[Hitachi]

Secondary question, will a nassarius snail climb on and hang out on rocks?

 

[KJ]

Secondary question, will a nassarius snail climb on and hang out on rocks?

Yes.

 

[Hitachi]

Snail in question

 

[KJ]

Snail in question

Look like Whelk sp.