Nassarius Snail?

footgal

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Little bit of backstory here:
I got all of my live rock from a close friend of mine a little more than 10 months ago. He runs a bare bottom tank and never had any type of nassarius snail.

I put in some astrea snails also about 10 months ago, picked them all out by hand at LFS so I’m positive of their ID.

No rock, snails, hermits, shells, etc have been added since then; yet, I find this guy for the second time today. The shell was probably about 1 1/2” long and he was FAST. A small tube like thing protruded from the front of the shell and it’s striped black and white. I’ve never ever seen him during the day time, and he seems to only come out at night, dig in detritus, and stay on the ground. I believe him to be a nassarius snail, but I’m not exactly sure how that’s possible. Any ID ideas for me?

PS: apologies for the meh pictures, he’s fast!!
4432BF71-8743-4315-A36E-1BE890FCBF48.jpeg
AEB66219-B752-4AB9-90EA-B069D511F911.jpeg
 

vetteguy53081

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It’s a whelk and common in Florida waters
They are very similar but one thing that allows you to distinguish them is nassarius has a cream colored solid colored tube
The whelk’s tube looks like it has been tattooed as yours does. Also the whelk has what looks like a flap on it tail (it’s a protective cover)
 
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footgal

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It’s a whelk and common in Florida waters
They are very similar but one thing that allows you to distinguish them is nassarius has a cream colored solid colored tube
The whelk’s tube looks like it has been tattooed as yours does. Also the whelk has what looks like a flap on it tail (it’s a protective cover)
Thanks! I’m assuming they’re reef safe? I haven’t noticed anything being upset
 

vetteguy53081

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Thanks! I’m assuming they’re reef safe? I haven’t noticed anything being upset
Actually sort of. They for sure eat clams and may eat other snails in the tank
 
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footgal

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Looks more like a stomatella snail to me.

I also have one that came in on a frag plug.
Here’s mine stretching across a gap in the rock.
25F75474-1E33-4F46-B5C0-F51618C1BE2F.jpeg
Sorry, yes I am aware that there’s a couple stomatellas in the tank lol. I should’ve specified, talking about the shelled snail on the bottom :)
 

CMMorgan

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Definitely not Nassarius. I have a bunch of those and a few bumble bee snails. They look nothing like that.
 
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footgal

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Definitely not Nassarius. I have a bunch of those and a few bumble bee snails. They look nothing like that.
Thanks, I kinda figured they may not be nassarius given the extensive anti-nassarius history. No idea what it is, but it definitely doesn’t help with bubble algae!
 

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Thanks, I kinda figured they may not be nassarius given the extensive anti-nassarius history. No idea what it is, but it definitely doesn’t help with bubble algae!
I can't testify from personal experience but my LFS told me if I ever get bubble to stop by and get a few emerald crabs. He said they love the stuff. I've only had it once... knock on wood... I was a NOOB. I thought it was fish eggs and proudly showed it off to a fellow reefer friend. (SMH) After he ROTFLOL for a bit he took my turkey baster and sucked it out. Thankfully, he did not make it worse.
 
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footgal

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I can't testify from personal experience but my LFS told me if I ever get bubble to stop by and get a few emerald crabs. He said they love the stuff. I've only had it once... knock on wood... I was a NOOB. I thought it was fish eggs and proudly showed it off to a fellow reefer friend. (SMH) After he ROTFLOL for a bit he took my turkey baster and sucked it out. Thankfully, he did not make it worse.
Yeah, my emerald started eating my Birdsnest. It’s gotten 99% better since I started vibrant but still needs some work here and there. It’s a shame my tank is too small for a foxface, it’s doing wonders in my friends tank
 

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Yeah, my emerald started eating my Birdsnest. It’s gotten 99% better since I started vibrant but still needs some work here and there. It’s a shame my tank is too small for a foxface, it’s doing wonders in my friends tank
My friend had one of those in his 180. He would not play nice with the other fish and got banished to the sump. He lived there for a long time then magically disappeared.
 

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Whelk:

1609822572160.jpeg


Whelk on the right side
1609822694254.jpeg
 

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