Fighting conch can jump!

[CanuckReefer]

I have to get some conch snails. I never looked into them before this thread. They're awesome looking. Are they all algae eaters? I think that's what I read. Do they need mature tanks?

They will turn over your sandbed gradually, eating a variety of stuff. Yes, I suggest starting with one for your tank 100%

 

[Karen00]

They will turn over your sandbed gradually, eating a variety of stuff. Yes, I suggest starting with one for your tank 100%

Awesome! Thanks. I'm sure there is enough stuff in my sandbed to keep one of these going for a long, long time. I feed way too much. :-)

 

[JoJosReef]

Awesome! Thanks. I'm sure there is enough stuff in my sandbed to keep one of these going for a long, long time. I feed way too much. :)

I worry about mine sometimes, because it mops up the sandbed pretty well--only a 13.5g, so not too much surface area. But I'm in the middle of a diatom bloom (hopefully not dinos), so happy Thanksgiving to my conch!

 

[J1a]

Caught in the act of climbing the front glass.

 

[derpychicken777]

It uses a strong “claw” like appendage to push down to pop up. Not sure what that “claw” appendage is called but it’s pretty cool. I wouldn’t call it a jump more of a pop.

Sorry for reviving a dead thread but I did notice no one answered you. The claw is actually a modified operculum. You see it on many snails, as a small round plate sitting on their tails. They use it to seal up their shells tight when they retract into their shells, to protect themselves and also prevent drying out. It’s why many snails you pick up have that hard plate in their shells openings, it’s the operculum sealing them in and protecting themselves.

Conches have very weird shell opening that don’t really seal shut, so as you can see, conches have exapted their operculum for new uses. One is for defense, that sharp operculum can be used for shanking purposes (thus “fighting” conches) and they have other uses for them like the hopping described in this threat and apparently sometimes use it to burrow too.