Nassarius or Whelk?

[mpatterson42]

I picked up 3 nassarius snails at the local fish store but wasn't paying too much attention when they were taking them out of the tank. I started drip acclimating and I'm now wondering if these are whelks instead of snails. I took a few pics, but none of them have their snorkel out. Should I put them in my refugium chamber just to be safe?

 

[exnisstech]

My nassarius have a long foot they drag behind them with the operculum attached. I don't know for sure but have read whelks do not have the foot behind them. Probably other ways to tell them apart but that's one I've used.

 

[mpatterson42]

Here's another photo where you can see the foot and the snorkel a little better.

 

[kevgib67]

Looks like a nassarius to me. You’ll know for sure if you put it in the tank and they spend most of their time under the sand. Both are whelks but predatory whelks do not go under the sand.

 

[mpatterson42]

Thanks, I moved one to my display tank, it started moving around and did have a foot behind it, it then buried itself, so I think there's a pretty high chance they're nassarius!

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