What type of Snail?

ScubaFish802

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What type of snail is this?

It looks like the north east (of the picture) area of the shell the spiny portion is broken off if that helps.

7CA2D870-EE2C-44EA-87B3-36921F8F2444.jpeg
 
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ScubaFish802

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I have a scarlet hermit crab in a shell exactly like that right now, but I can't remember if the crab came with the shell or he just "requisitioned" it.
I have some shells from traveling that look similar but don’t think I’ve ever seen one with the actual snail still alive either.
This one definitely has a foot, I’ve see it glide around the glass.
If it comes back around I’ll try to get a closer picture.
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

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It's a muricid snail of some kind - not sure what genus/species (there's ~1,600 living species in the family), but it's almost guaranteed to be a predatory snail. They generally eat things like bivalves (clams, oysters, etc.), gastropods (snails and slugs), and barnacles. So, there's a very good chance it would eat your CUC.

Fun fact, most muricid snails have larvae that don't go through a planktonic stage, so they could actually be hatched and raised in a tank relatively easily.
 

vetteguy53081

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Looks like typical shell of a conch
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

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If I had to guess, I'd guess a Chicoreus sp., but ID'ing snails has always been difficult for me.

A couple general rules of thumb I've found helpful (though not always applicable) for identifying if I should be concerned with a snail: extra spiky shells are usually muricid snails, and shells with extra long, narrow openings by the front (the side away from the spiral) are usually whelks.
 
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ScubaFish802

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After banning the snail to the 3rd area of the sump (just a skimmer and a few of these black snails which have made their way down and through), I did notice today it did indeed appear to be hunting and eating other snails
91E03EDE-479F-4D74-949B-F718B24F2776.jpeg
 

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