Snail identification

[Reefosuave]

Hey All,

Looking for some opinions on what these guys are. They've been growing in number over the past year and a half and I probably have hundreds. They just showed up one day. They bury themselves, and as you can see come out for food, even during lights on.

 

[minus9]

Nassarius snails. Good CUC of uneaten food and detritus. That's a pretty sizable population, so they must have a pretty good food source.

 

[MaxTremors]

Can’t see the video/picture, but based on the reply, I’m guessing they are nassarius snails. I haven’t ever had nassarius snails reproduce in my tanks, but I have had whelks reproduce. Whelks are not reef safe. The tell-tale differences between the two are a spotted or ‘tattooed’ siphon, a little calcareous ‘trap door’ on the back of their foot that they use to seal themselves inside their shell, and a shell that is not uniform in color (a lot of the whelks I’ve seen have a black and orange mottled shell). Despite what people say, whelks will bury themselves, and will come out during the day if they are hungry and smell food. Some whelks will be harmless for a while and then all of a sudden eat clams, corals, and other snails.

 

[Reefosuave]

I thought so as well but I have a lot of whelk comments because apparently Nassarius don't spawn often. These do look like vibex though.

 

[minus9]

Can you take a pic (close up) of the snout?