Snail found on conch

ReeferJustin · Jan 3, 2019

I just got back from the lfs buying a couple of conches and this little guy was on the back of one of them, was wondering if anyone here knew what it was. I found it odd that it seemed to have a nose like tentacle like a Nassarius.

JasonK84 · Jan 3, 2019

Maybe a whelk?

reef lover · Jan 4, 2019

Leaning toward whelk....

TheEngineer · Jan 4, 2019

Welcome to R2R!

You've got yourself a whelk there. They are snail predators. If you have a sump, you can put it in there. Otherwise, I suggest you put it in the freezer and ends its life quickly.

JasonK84 · Jan 4, 2019

TheEngineer said:
Welcome to R2R!

You've got yourself a whelk there. They are snail predators. If you have a sump, you can put it in there. Otherwise, I suggest you put it in the freezer and ends its life quickly.

I can think of faster methods than a freezer. I guess it just depends on what your gut can handle.

OriginalUserName · Jan 4, 2019

JasonK84 said:
I can think of faster methods than a freezer. I guess it just depends on what your gut can handle.

I would not try to eat it man.

I like the spots that whelks have. I had a hitchiker a while back that grew to be about an inch before I found it.

JasonK84 · Jan 4, 2019

OriginalUserName said:
I would not try to eat it man.

I like the spots that whelks have. I had a hitchiker a while back that grew to be about an inch before I found it.

I just meant some people might be squeamish about stomping it into the pavement but I guess stomach acid would do it too! LOL! I'd choose the sump if it were me but if killing it is the choice then a boot sole and concrete would be the quickest way I could imagine.

KJ · Jan 4, 2019

This she'll looks different from whelk shell.

ReeferJustin · Jan 4, 2019

Thank you all for the responses, after looking up a whelk I too think that is it one. I have it in a quarantine right now waiting for me to make up my mind. As he is quite tiny I don't think he would make much of a meal so I am not going to eat him =P. I really no preference to what I do with him so I might just toss him into my fuge and let him live his life in peace. My only concern with that is that I have a few snails in there just to keep things a little cleaner, will they be any threat to them? And if not is there any other reasons keeping one might turn into a problem down the road?

Dennco2000 · Jan 4, 2019

Nah, enjoy the little bloke and on your next vacation to Florida scroll your initials in his shell and toss him the surf.

JasonK84 · Jan 4, 2019

ReeferJustin said:
Thank you all for the responses, after looking up a whelk I too think that is it one. I have it in a quarantine right now waiting for me to make up my mind. As he is quite tiny I don't think he would make much of a meal so I am not going to eat him =P. I really no preference to what I do with him so I might just toss him into my fuge and let him live his life in peace. My only concern with that is that I have a few snails in there just to keep things a little cleaner, will they be any threat to them? And if not is there any other reasons keeping one might turn into a problem down the road?

A whelk is a snail predator so it will kill and eat snails it can get to. Don't throw it in the ocean. This is how invasive species get were they shouldn't be. Either keep him or quickly euthanize him but don't return him to sea.