Snail identification

[Dan K.]

Hello, new to this site. Anyone know if this is the dreaded cone snail? Purchased 3 conch the other day, 2 of which i am certain of.

 

[Redfoxtang]

Definitely a sand borrowing snail. Almost looks like a Nassarius snail but the shell is different. Someone will chime in with some help!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Whelk snail, very similar to nassarius.
Theyre front tube is a giveaway as it has tattoo looking markings.
With Whelks look very similar to Nassarius, they are a predatory group that primarily eat clams but will often eat other snails as well especially astrea, trochus and cerith snails. Not recommended for the reef tank. Whelks act like snails, and tend to be on the glass or rockwork. They will move across the sand when necessary, but never submerge themselves beneath the surface of the sand. Their main activity can be observed at night by flashlight, as they are nocturnal creatures.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Let's see if the #reefsquad can identify.

 

[Dan K.]

Whelk snail, very similar to nassarius.
Theyre front tube is a giveaway as it has tattoo looking markings.
With Whelks look very similar to Nassarius, they are a predatory group that primarily eat clams but will often eat other snails as well especially astrea, trochus and cerith snails. Not recommended for the reef tank. Whelks act like snails, and tend to be on the glass or rockwork. They will move across the sand when necessary, but never submerge themselves beneath the surface of the sand. Their main activity can be observed at night by flashlight, as they are nocturnal creatures.

Thanks for your reply, however this guy buried himself as soon as i originally put him in. I returned him to the lfs and noticed the tank he came from did have a lot of empty shells in the aqurium. I tried putting mysis in front of him to see if his "needle" would stick out which it didnt. Either way i felt uneasy with it.

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Whelk snail, very similar to nassarius.
Theyre front tube is a giveaway as it has tattoo looking markings.
With Whelks look very similar to Nassarius, they are a predatory group that primarily eat clams but will often eat other snails as well especially astrea, trochus and cerith snails. Not recommended for the reef tank. Whelks act like snails, and tend to be on the glass or rockwork. They will move across the sand when necessary, but never submerge themselves beneath the surface of the sand. Their main activity can be observed at night by flashlight, as they are nocturnal creatures.

I’m not sure what species but I’m quite confident that shell is from the cone snail group unless theres a family of like shaped whelks I don’t know about. I don’t think whelks can have a shell with such a flat end like that. I believe the tube of the cone snails can also bear markings as described.

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Shell looks cery similar to Californiconus californiconus

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Be careful when removing, last I checked all cone snails bear some tyoe of modified of harpoon tooth.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I looked at this snail on my PC screen and although represents the whelk may be closer to the California cone snail which has the same habit of the whelk eating other snails and clam
Also a no-keeper