Princess Conch or Whelk?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cjf
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users None

cjf

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 31, 2022
Messages
1
Reaction score
1
Location
Iowa
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi all, I am relatively new to the hobby (I set up an Evo 13.5 gallon saltwater tank in April that is doing well and just set up a 55 gallon tank a few weeks ago). In any event, a few weeks ago I went to a local fish store to pick up equipment for my new 55 gallon tank and decided to purchase some Nassarius snails to help stir up the sand bed in my 13.5 gallon tank. The person at the store suggested a "princess conch" as a great addition to my clean up crew and I purchased the "princess conch" in addition to a few Nassarius snails. Anyway, over the last couple of weeks I have found the "conch" attached to a couple of now empty Astrea snail shells and I am pretty sure I saw it eating a dead hermit crab. So anyway, I would like to see if anybody here can tell me whether this thing is eating my snails/hermit crabs or if it is just a coincidence that I keep finding it in compromising positions with other members of my clean up crew. I did try to do a little research on "princess conchs" and the only other thread that popped up was this one: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-the-heck-princess-snail-red-trochus-snail.470760/ and I can't tell if it is the same thing.

Here are the best pictures I could get of the thing this morning:

1.jpg
2.jpg
3.jpg
4.jpg
5.jpg
 
From what I can see from the shell, it looks like you have some species of murex, which is a carnivorous mollusc. It certainly doesn't look like a conch, which have knobby crowns and smooth lower cones. I've also never heard of a "princess" conch; Queen Conchs can grow to massive proportions and are not suitable for anything less than a massive tank.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top