Snail ID

[CMO]

Anyone know what kind of snails these are. They're breeding like crazy in my tank and don't every really recall introducing anything like this. They seem to live exclusively on rock (not in sand).

Thanks

 

[James M]

The shell looks like a margarita snail

 

[CMO]

How about at this angle? Doesn't look like a margarita to me due to the longer shell and single snout thing but I'm no snail expert. You still think its a baby margarita from this angle?

 

[James M]

Yeah I don’t thinks it’s a margarita snail

 

[reef lover]

Trunk points to whelk... @KJ

 

[KJ]

Trunk points to whelk... @KJ

Agree look like a whelk to me.

 

[CMO]

I'd have agree they look like Welks (not that I knew what those were until now). They don't seem to be disturbing anything including my clam but they're bad right? Time to go hunting?

 

[CMO]

Came across this article and see something called a Columbellid snail that looks exactly like what I have (but also looks like a Whelk). From what I read, Whelks eat flesh which I'm not seeing them do. They seem to be grazing on rock and glass for what I assume is algae, detritus, diatoms. Is there any easy way to distinguish between a Columbellid snail and a Whelk?

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/rs/index.php

Here is another angle of one of my snails in question:

 

[reef lover]

Well...the tattoed trunk says whelk but the lack of a siphonal canal suggests its not...easy way to test...buy some clam meat and put it next to one...if its whelk it will be all over it...

 

[reef lover]

Missed you said you had a clam...id say theyre fine if they havent made a meal outta him.

 

[CMO]

Missed you said you had a clam...id say theyre fine if they havent made a meal outta him.

Yeah, I'm going to keep an eye on them for the time being I think. They've been in there with the clam for a good 5 month+ and haven't touched it so based on their apparent feeding habits I'm leaning towards columbellids which are beneficial if I read correctly.

 

[CMO]

Well...the tattoed trunk says whelk but the lack of a siphonal canal suggests its not...easy way to test...buy some clam meat and put it next to one...if its whelk it will be all over it...

But just for safe measure I do have some half clams for eel feeding so I'll leave one in tonight and see what happens.