xl nassarius?

Wiz · Dec 30, 2014

has anybody ever come across extra large nassarius snails? I found these guys in an LFS. Picked up a few. Here is a pic to show scale. Center is a vibeX, right is a fancy or Tonga, and the left is the extra large.

143MPCo · Dec 30, 2014

Yes, I have some hiding out in my DSB... they go nuts soon as I feed the tank... great addition to my clean up crew.

Wiz · Dec 30, 2014

143MPCo said:
Yes, I have some hiding out in my DSB... they go nuts soon as I feed the tank... great addition to my clean up crew.

sweet, thank you for the quick response. Just wanted to make sure that they are like other nassarius

jgalen0025 · Dec 30, 2014

they are not nassarious snails. they are a type of whelk which are reef safe with caution

Rob Top1 · Dec 30, 2014

Guess things aren't just bigger in Texas, those look about normal size for what my lfs gets. About the size of a green grape.

Wiz · Dec 30, 2014

jgalen0025 said:
they are not nassarious snails. they are a type of whelk which are reef safe with caution

Any idea why caution?

Wiz · Dec 30, 2014

Rob Top1 said:
Guess things aren't just bigger in Texas, those look about normal size for what my lfs gets. About the size of a green grape.

The fancy is that big. The xl is closer to a fighting conch. Bout 1.5-2"

143MPCo · Dec 30, 2014

jgalen0025 said:
they are not nassarious snails. they are a type of whelk which are reef safe with caution

I'd like to know also, why "caution"?

jgalen0025 · Dec 30, 2014

Whelk | Melev's Reef

jgalen0025 · Dec 30, 2014

There have been alot in the last couple years coming out of florida and the like. Nassarius vibex, and other types never have smooth shells and the bodies are never dark colored/dotted. The whelks showing up in lfss' across the state are abundant and easy to catch and sell unlike the tiny vibex.

143MPCo · Dec 30, 2014

Whelk versus Nassarius | Melev's Reef

Please look at the above link in his post...

"If you look at the texture of their snouts, there is a specific pattern "tattooed" onto the flesh of the Whelk. Also, the Whelk has a protective shell on its tail that it uses to seal itself in its shell when in danger. This gives it a water tight seal."

From the pictures they are not whelks.

jgalen0025 · Dec 30, 2014

143MPCo said:
Whelk versus Nassarius | Melev's Reef

Please look at the above link in his post...

"If you look at the texture of their snouts, there is a specific pattern "tattooed" onto the flesh of the Whelk. Also, the Whelk has a protective shell on its tail that it uses to seal itself in its shell when in danger. This gives it a water tight seal."

From the pictures they are not whelks.

I did you obviously didnt. This has already been hashed out long ago. Believe what you want, its your tank!
"Whelks get much larger, while Nassarius don't."

afamousjohnson · Dec 30, 2014

Have you guys seen the butterscotch or leopard nassarius. Bout the size of a golf ball if u wanna see a big one. Had 1 in the tank about a year. I'll see if i can find a pic

143MPCo · Dec 30, 2014

Wiz

Please look at both links, that will help you ID if you have whelks or nassarius snails... Melevsreef.com makes a clear distinction between the two.

Whelk | Melev's Reef

Whelk versus Nassarius | Melev's Reef

Wiz · Dec 30, 2014

jgalen0025 said:
Whelk | Melev's Reef

at first I was positive you are right. I thought oh no I have to get them out. But one thing that is a discrepancy is that all 5 that I bought imediately bury themselves in my sand and they stay there most of the time like a Nassarius. That article says that welks do not bury themselves and rarely are on the sand. This ones I have I've only seen one on the glass once.

afamousjohnson · Dec 30, 2014

Here it is
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/general-invert-forum/119130-wanna-see-something-cool.html

looks like this guy could be a welch? he was fine in my reef and spent the majority of his time buried in the sand. This was the only time I ever saw him on the glass

Wiz · Dec 30, 2014

o worries my friend. I truly appreciate the information. And I will thoroughly research this myself. I never take other peoples answers. It's unfortunate to people feel the need to argue over something figured out for sure

143MPCo said:
Wiz

Please look at both links, that will help you ID if you have whelks or nassarius snails... Melevsreef.com makes a clear distinction between the two.

Whelk | Melev's Reef

Whelk versus Nassarius | Melev's Reef

Wiz · Dec 30, 2014

over something that can be figured out for sure. Sorry

143MPCo · Dec 30, 2014

Wiz said:
over something that can be figured out for sure. Sorry

LOL... I understood it the first time, no worries.. :thumb:

jgalen0025 · Dec 30, 2014

143MPCo said:
LOL... I understood it the first time, no worries.. :thumb:

This is not an argument, the fact is that no true nassarius snails get that big. There are thousands of species of whelks that dont necessarily look alike. THe experts have already spoken on this one. Just do a little searching on Rcentral. I never said they werent reef safe. Just like with anything else, all individuals may vary.