Help identifying snail

[eric-atl]

I've seen these guys periodically in my tank for years. They're small, around 1/2" to 3/4" long, seem to be mostly on the glass or rocks, and have a little brown bit of shell at the very back of their tail. I haven't been able to get a better picture than this, but their proboscis has darker splotches on the top, so I believe they're a kind of whelk. They haven't caused any problems that I'm aware of. I've seen opinions ranging from "they're fine if you don't have clams" to "kill it with fire!", though, so I would at least like to determine the species to know if there are particular incompatibilities I should know about. I'm pretty certain that they breed in the tank, as I find shells on occasion (as do the hermit crabs ). I've never been aware of more than 3 or 4 at any given time, though, so not getting out of control.

 

[fishski13]

looks like a type of nassarius snail

 

[bnord]

are they mostly out at dusk to dark?

 

[SlugSnorter]

I've seen these guys periodically in my tank for years. They're small, around 1/2" to 3/4" long, seem to be mostly on the glass or rocks, and have a little brown bit of shell at the very back of their tail. I haven't been able to get a better picture than this, but their proboscis has darker splotches on the top, so I believe they're a kind of whelk. They haven't caused any problems that I'm aware of. I've seen opinions ranging from "they're fine if you don't have clams" to "kill it with fire!", though, so I would at least like to determine the species to know if there are particular incompatibilities I should know about. I'm pretty certain that they breed in the tank, as I find shells on occasion (as do the hermit crabs ). I've never been aware of more than 3 or 4 at any given time, though, so not getting out of control.

looks like it could be a harmful Whelk, most have risks of eating other snails, and clams. Some even eat corals. I would remove just in case.

 

[eric-atl]

are they mostly out at dusk to dark?

I haven't noticed them favoring a particular time of day, but I can keep an eye out

looks like it could be a harmful Whelk, most have risks of eating other snails, and clams. Some even eat corals. I would remove just in case.

I hate to kill things "just in case", but I do always wonder if they're to blame any time a coral looks bad LOL

 

[SlugSnorter]

I haven't noticed them favoring a particular time of day, but I can keep an eye out


I hate to kill things "just in case", but I do always wonder if they're to blame any time a coral looks bad LOL

If you don't wanna kill them, just sump them.