Snail ID

[dowsetts101]

Hi all, I picked up some snails at my LFS today. I just wanted to expand my CUC a bit. They called them “algae snails” which wasn’t particularly useful.

They aren’t very big, probably about 3/4” I’m length, and they were cleaning the glass in the tank that they were in.

Once I’ve introduced them into my tank, one of them started to burrow into the sand bed, the others moved onto my rockwork.

They look a bit like Cerith snails (but with a bit “bumpier” shells)

Any thoughts on what type they are?

 

[kirstyflash]

Do they have little snorkels? Or a long trunk like mouth? I am sure they have technical names lol

 

[dowsetts101]

Do they have little snorkels? Or a long trunk like mouth? I am sure they have technical names lol

Hmmm...I’d say little snorkels...here’s a photo of one on the glass

 

[kirstyflash]

I don’t think I’m much help. Doesn’t quite look like a cereth or a whelk...I’ll let someone else chime in

 

[TheEngineer]

Looks like one of the nassarius varieties

 

[DSC reef]

Has a whelk look to it, @KJ

 

[KJ]

Look like Whelk.

 

[kirstyflash]

You won’t believe it, I just found a tiny snail, like the size of a stomatella that has the exact same underside of this guy. Little bugger got sent to the sump.

 

[TheEngineer]

Take a look at the bottom of the snail. Is the trap door attached to the shell or the snail’s body? Does the body look tattooed?

 

[cracker]

please tell us more about the trap door differences .

 

[TheEngineer]

These are two of the easier ways to distinguish between whelks and their similar looking nassarius snails. Additionally, whelks have pointier shells and they have defined eyes on the end of their stalks.

Trap door:
Nassarius snails have the door which they can hide behind in their shell attached to the shell. On a whelk, it is attached to their body and not their shell.

Skin:
Whelks have a distinctive tattooed look to their skin whereas nassarius snails have solid colored skin.

 

[kirstyflash]

Take a look at the bottom of the snail. Is the trap door attached to the shell or the snail’s body? Does the body look tattooed?

No trap door that I could see and yes there were like vibrant red markings over the slimy sucker

 

[dowsetts101]

Look like Whelk.

Has a whelk look to it, @KJ

Well, I think the “whelks” have it!!!

I’ve been holding off taking them out, as they were doing a nice job on the algae...and I came home tonight to this...two confirmed whelks doing a number on one of my favourite Trochus snails.

So into the sump the whelks go!!! I’m assuming that they’ll be safe there???

I don’t think I’m much help. Doesn’t quite look like a cereth or a whelk...I’ll let someone else chime in

Looks like one of the nassarius varieties

Beware the whelks!!!