Coral eating snail identification, please!

[ab-774819]

I recently purchased 2 of these snails marketed as cerith snails. I've never owned ceriths or even seen them in person so I believed the sales person, stupidly. I've since found them constantly attached to my acan frags on the sand and it appears they're eating the flesh/skeletal structure on them... can anyone tell me what they think these are and should I take them back or feed them something special? They really dont move, like at all, besides to scoot over to my acans. Definitely dont bury themselves like ive read ceriths do. Thanks for the help!

 

[Dburr1014]

Not sure on the snail, but they may eat dying flesh.
Is this how you purchased the acan?

In other words, is the snail actually eating healthy flesh killing it or is that acan dying and the snail is eating that.

 

[Bucs20fan]

Umm ceriths dont bury themselves, nassarius do. Ceriths eat algae, and if that frag had algae growing on the skeleton, its going to eat that algae.

Either way, that acan doesnt look happy, probably from the two vermetid snails we see on its skeleton. Youll wanna remove those before they explode in population in your tank.

 

[ab-774819]

Not sure on the snail, but they may eat dying flesh.
Is this how you purchased the acan?

In other words, is the snail actually eating healthy flesh killing it or is that acan dying and the snail is eating that.

I haven't had this acan but maybe a week or 2 and it's been quite unhappy the whole time... not really getting full poly extension so you may be onto something

 

[ab-774819]

Umm ceriths dont bury themselves, nassarius do. Ceriths eat algae, and if that frag had algae growing on the skeleton, its going to eat that algae.

Either way, that acan doesnt look happy, probably from the two vermetid snails we see on its skeleton. Youll wanna remove those before they explode in population in your tank.

Thank you!!! I hadn't noticed that! I just cut/scrapped it off completely with scissors... should that keep it from coming back and spreading?

 

[ab-774819]

Umm ceriths dont bury themselves, nassarius do. Ceriths eat algae, and if that frag had algae growing on the skeleton, its going to eat that algae.

Either way, that acan doesnt look happy, probably from the two vermetid snails we see on its skeleton. Youll wanna remove those before they explode in population in your tank.

This is why I was under the belief that they burrow

 

[Dburr1014]

This is why I was under the belief that they burrow

LOL, it says Cerith the picture is a Nassarius.
Don't go back to that site, LOL!

 

[Bucs20fan]

Exactly what I was going to say, you beat me to it. Ceriths do not bury, the google thing you just sent is clearly a picture of a nassarius snail.

 

[ab-774819]

Exactly what I was going to say, you beat me to it. Ceriths do not bury, the google thing you just sent is clearly a picture of a nassarius snail.

Gotcha... I've only been reefing for about 4-5 months so I'm not familiar with all the critters involved... I just needed something to aerate my sand bed. I'll see if they'll let me exchange for some nassarius snails. Thanks everyone!

 

[Dburr1014]

Gotcha... I've only been reefing for about 4-5 months so I'm not familiar with all the critters involved... I just needed something to aerate my sand bed. I'll see if they'll let me exchange for some nassarius snails. Thanks everyone!

Conch are nice too for sandbed. 1 per 4 sqft, depending on how much rock is in your sand.

 

[Bucs20fan]

Thank you!!! I hadn't noticed that! I just cut/scrapped it off completely with scissors... should that keep it from coming back and spreading?

Yes that will work, as long as you got the entire snail off, shell all the way to the bottom.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Umm ceriths dont bury themselves, nassarius do. Ceriths eat algae, and if that frag had algae growing on the skeleton, its going to eat that algae.

Either way, that acan doesnt look happy, probably from the two vermetid snails we see on its skeleton. Youll wanna remove those before they explode in population in your tank.

Um, Ceriths definitely bury themselves!

 

[FrostyWriter021]

Gotcha... I've only been reefing for about 4-5 months so I'm not familiar with all the critters involved... I just needed something to aerate my sand bed. I'll see if they'll let me exchange for some nassarius snails. Thanks everyone!

I have a sand shifting star fish he was 20 dollars and does a good job shifting the sand in my 13 gallon

 

[Dburr1014]

I have a sand shifting star fish he was 20 dollars and does a good job shifting the sand in my 13 gallon

You have to feed him to keep him long term in that size tank.

 

[ab-774819]

I have a sand shifting star fish he was 20 dollars and does a good job shifting the sand in my 13 gallon

I've read too many stories of them starving to death, unfortunately. I'd absolutely love to have one otherwise