Something on my Nessarius snail

[Mariette]

Some kind of crusty thing on one of my Nessarius Snails? On its tail part there

 

[Coral Me Impressed]

Operculum or Gill cover. Basically the door to its shell.

 

[Mariette]

Operculum or Gill cover. Basically the door to its shell.

Oh. Ok. Never seen it there before. Should I be worried?

 

[Coral Me Impressed]

No, when they go into their shell they close the opening with it to stay safe. Just part of some snails anatomy.

 

[Mariette]

No, when they go into their shell they close the opening with it to stay safe. Just part of some snails anatomy.

Uhhh... do nessarius snails go into their shells?

 

[reef lover]

Im thinking hes a whelk...

 

[35ppt]

Im thinking hes a whelk...

This is bad info. The snail in the photo is a Nassarius. Nassarius snails have the trap door on their foot not the shell and some kinds of Nassarius have speckled patterns on their flesh just like in the photo. I've never seen a Nassarius with it's trap door connected to it's shell.

 

[reef lover]

Thx ill have to do some digging.;Bookworm

 

[35ppt]

Whelk versus Nassarius | Melev's Reef

www.melevsreef.com

 

[Zbryant]

I have a snail with I think a feather duster on it. It’s actually neat.

 

[reef lover]

That states that whelks have a trap door but doesnt specify about nass...
Op..get a pic of the eyes that will tell you for certain.

 

[Mariette]

According to my research, I've concluded it is in fact a Nessarius Snail for several reasons. No explanation as to what that may be. Perhaps the trap door has become dislodged somehow?

 

[35ppt]

According to my research, I've concluded it is in fact a Nessarius Snail for several reasons. No explanation as to what that may be. Perhaps the trap door has become dislodged somehow?

It's normal, they all have the trap door on the top side of their foot like that.

 

[Mariette]

It's normal, they all have the trap door on the top side of their foot like that.

I have 4 of them. I've had them for maybe 6 mths. It's the 1st I'm seeing it and the other 3 don't have it

 

[Streetlamp]

My nass look exactly like yours with the thing on its tail.

 

[35ppt]

I have 4 of them. I've had them for maybe 6 mths. It's the 1st I'm seeing it and the other 3 don't have it

Take another look at the others, they've got them too I'm sure. I've ordered a lot of Nassarius of the years and I don't recall ever seeing one without the trap door on the foot. Take some photos if possible.

 

[Mariette]

Take another look at the others, they've got them too I'm sure. I've ordered a lot of Nassarius of the years and I don't recall ever seeing one without the trap door on the foot. Take some photos if possible.

You're right. My bad.