What type of Snail?
- Thread starter ScubaFish802
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OP
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ScubaFish802
Just keep swimming
I have some shells from traveling that look similar but don’t think I’ve ever seen one with the actual snail still alive either.
This one definitely has a foot, I’ve see it glide around the glass.
If it comes back around I’ll try to get a closer picture.
It's a muricid snail of some kind - not sure what genus/species (there's ~1,600 living species in the family), but it's almost guaranteed to be a predatory snail. They generally eat things like bivalves (clams, oysters, etc.), gastropods (snails and slugs), and barnacles. So, there's a very good chance it would eat your CUC.
Fun fact, most muricid snails have larvae that don't go through a planktonic stage, so they could actually be hatched and raised in a tank relatively easily.
Fun fact, most muricid snails have larvae that don't go through a planktonic stage, so they could actually be hatched and raised in a tank relatively easily.
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Looks like typical shell of a conch
If I had to guess, I'd guess a Chicoreus sp., but ID'ing snails has always been difficult for me.
A couple general rules of thumb I've found helpful (though not always applicable) for identifying if I should be concerned with a snail: extra spiky shells are usually muricid snails, and shells with extra long, narrow openings by the front (the side away from the spiral) are usually whelks.
A couple general rules of thumb I've found helpful (though not always applicable) for identifying if I should be concerned with a snail: extra spiky shells are usually muricid snails, and shells with extra long, narrow openings by the front (the side away from the spiral) are usually whelks.
OP
OP
ScubaFish802
Just keep swimming
After banning the snail to the 3rd area of the sump (just a skimmer and a few of these black snails which have made their way down and through), I did notice today it did indeed appear to be hunting and eating other snails
