whelk or nassarius snail?

[F i s h y]

these were sold to me as nassarius snails. I dont think they are. They have no discernable eye stalks, they have a dark motled pattern, and have spent all their time in the rocks instead of sand. They don't glide along the sand like I'm used to.... did I get sold something that isn't a nassarius snail? I've viewed the melevs thread, just looking for other opinions. I think they are whelks.... and thats a tiny bubble tip not a majano ;) we call him bub jr.

 

[F i s h y]

Additional pics...

 

[TriggerFinger]

The shells look a bit odd and I don’t see eye stalks either. The first picture appears to have the “cheetah print” on the snout. My nassarius snails go up on the glass or rocks when I feed the tank but bury back under the sand after eating. Do these guys go in the sand at all? Can you put them in a glass dish for better pics?

 

[ahiggins]

Whelks are super hard to tell apart. I get the Tonga nass. for that reason alone (all white). The regular nass for sale can be close to the same spotted mottled look. From what I have gathered through my time researching was whelks have a very distinct pattern where regular nass have splotchy uneven black/brown patterns. Hopefully someone can help out more :)

 

[F i s h y]

The shells look a bit odd and I don’t see eye stalks either. The first picture appears to have the “cheetah print” on the snout. My nassarius snails go up on the glass or rocks when I feed the tank but bury back under the sand after eating. Do these guys go in the sand at all? Can you put them in a glass dish for better pics?

I got 6. Of the 6 only one buries in the sand. The rest spend 100 percent of the time in the rocks. That one did not appreciate me flipping it over on the sand and made it back to the rock as fast as a snail goes.

 

[F i s h y]

Whelks are super hard to tell apart. I get the Tonga nass. for that reason alone (all white). The regular nass for sale can be close to the same spotted mottled look. From what I have gathered through my time researching was whelks have a very distinct pattern where regular nass have splotchy uneven black/brown patterns. Hopefully someone can help out more :)

I wish I had gone with the Tongan nass.... I appreciate the response. Im trying to decide if I keep them, sump them, or get rid of them. I want the good sand sifting variety...

 

[ahiggins]

Don’t spend too much time obsessing over if they’re in the sand or not. When any of mine smell the slightest bit of food they go all over looking for it-rock, glass, corals...

 

[ahiggins]

I wish I had gone with the Tongan nass.... I appreciate the response. Im trying to decide if I keep them, sump them, or get rid of them. I want the good sand sifting variety...

Do you feed heavy or notice they’re out and about more during feeding? Deep sand or shallow?
What kind of corals do you have?

 

[ahiggins]

I will say that nass vibex does a better job of eating uneaten food while the Tongan only scavenges. So no matter what kind you have, it’s still beneficial

 

[F i s h y]

I will say that nass vibex does a better job of eating uneaten food while the Tongan only scavenges. So no matter what kind you have, it’s still beneficial

No fish in the tank and i feed tank and spot feed the 2 bubble tips a couple times a week to keep the inverts happy. Waiting to get fish through QT. There are some hermits, some peppermint shrimp (no more aptasia) and a couple emerald crabs. A couple hitchhiker corals on the established live rock, some clove polyps, a mushroom, and some Kenya, all the clove and Kenya will probably be taken out soon. This is going to have some not quite reef safe fish like a jewel puffer eventually. Tank has been cycled for over a month

 

[ahiggins]

No fish in the tank and i feed tank and spot feed the 2 bubble tips a couple times a week to keep the inverts happy. Waiting to get fish through QT. There are some hermits, some peppermint shrimp (no more aptasia) and a couple emerald crabs. A couple hitchhiker corals on the established live rock, some clove polyps, a mushroom, and some Kenya, all the clove and Kenya will probably be taken out soon. This is going to have some not quite reef safe fish like a jewel puffer eventually. Tank has been cycled for over a month

Id leave them in and see what happens. They’re easy to catch too lol so if you want to sump them later you can.

 

[F i s h y]

Id leave them in and see what happens. They’re easy to catch too lol so if you want to sump them later you can.

I think i will leave them. Im in no hurry and have lots of other things to do with tanks in the mean time... i just don't want to add other sbails in the future and them end up snacks to whelks...