Snail ID F 28

FAQs about Marine Snail Identification 28

Related Articles: Gastropods, Sea Slugs, Mollusks, Abalone,

Cowry id. If possible 2/24/15
Hi I've got a little hitch hiker i believe its an allied cowry but cant seem to find any info about being reef safe and wondered if you would be able to shed some light on the subject..
Thanx
<Does appear to be a Pseudosimnia sinensis; do eat Nephtheids...; soft corals. Bob Fenner>
Re: Cowry id. If possible 2/24/15
Thank you very much
<Ah, welcome. BobF>

Nassarius Snails 3/13/15
<... five megs of pix... What's our limit?>
I recently decided to order some Nassarius snails on eBay. In looking on a thread, someone had posted that these were not truly Nassarius.
<The genus>
I contacted the seller, and she said that she got her original group from the Caribbean.
<Are worldwide; several species...>
They have not yet arrived, but I'm trying to figure this out. I should've done this before I ordered, but my gut is saying I should check this out. I have attached a photo. Thank you.
<See WWM, the Net re... Could be. Bob Fenner>

Parasitic Snail on Astrea Snail? 2/3/15
Hello,
I purchased these snails from LiveAquaria. Is this a parasitic snail or limpet of some sort growing on this snail?
<Appears to be Crepidula... a Slipper Limpet>
There also may be a smaller one on another species of Turban snail in the tank.
Should I attempt to remove these, and if so, how?
<I'd leave on; not harmful, and a neat conversation item>
It might require brute force, and would that damage the Astrea snail? The snails behavior doesn't seem to be affected.
Thanks,
<Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Hitchhiker advice needed 8/27/14
Hi crew,
>Ad>
Thanks for your wise words in the past week, I'm new to keeping marine fish and corals and your advice and website has been invaluable to me.
If possible id like to know a few things about some hitch hiking snails I've found on my liverock.
One is a cone shell type with a little trumpet thing coming out the front and the other is a flat green one with a big body/foot. I'll attach pictures. The cone snail seems to be growing quite fast, I noticed it about
two months ago and it has about doubled in size. The shell started out all white but a few black dots around the top, now it's getting a checkered pattern.
I'd like to know if they would be safe to keep in a reef tank and how did they get there? Do they come from eggs or just good hiders?
<Mmm; on/ with the live rock is where they came... the one limpet like organism is likely Scutus; the other I can't quite make out... you need to send sharper, cropped images... This could be a Tulip Snail... I'd remove it for general purposes>
They seem to eat algae but I have corals in the tank and I don't want anything feasting on them. I wouldn't want anything too poisonous in the tank either.
Hope you can help, thanks in advance,
Adrian peters
<Mmm; take the long read through the Gastropod ID FAQs files on WWM... Bob
Fenner>

Re: Hitchhiker advice needed 8/27/14
Hi again,
Thanks for your reply.
I'll be reading through the pages carefully.
Thanks again
Adrian peters
<Welcome>

snail id.     6/3/14
Regards, WWM folks. Thanks for such informative website.
I was looking for pictures to match this snail but with no avail. I am attaching a picture and hope someone can provide me a description and let me know whether these guys are reef safe. Thanks, Frank Navarro.
<My going guess is that this is a Nassariid of some sort. Am sending on to LynnZ for her input. Bob Fenner>
Re: snail id. Lynn; any idea?     6/3/14
Hi Bob, I'm having problems getting the crew mail site to load (it just shows that it's processing, but won't open). As soon as it does, I'll email Frank for some more info (need to know if operculum is calcareous or
horny). Take care, Lynn
<Mmm; do look on WWM for the original download... maybe IT will load.
Cheers, B>
Re: snail id. Lynn; any idea?     6/3/14
Hi Bob, I'm having problems getting the crew mail site to load (it just shows that it's processing, but won't open). As soon as it does, I'll email Frank for some more info (need to know if operculum is calcareous or
horny). Take care, Lynn
<Mmm; do look on WWM for the original download... maybe IT will load.
Cheers, B>
<<Thanks Bob - I ended up switching from Int. Exp. 11 (Grrrr) to Chrome and that did it - no more issues.
<I too switched sometime back...>
As for the house thing, yep, we're very excited. The inspection was today so we're looking forward to getting that dealt with and moving on.
One step closer to warm weather and the beach! Take care, Lynn
<Yippee! Hope to see you and your husband down there someday soon. B>

Re: snail id. Lynn; any idea? 6/3/14
Thanks Bob, offhand it looks like a phasianellid of some sort but let me look into it more. Here's an example of one (Phasianella histrio):
http://www.gastropods.com/1/Shell_9281.shtml
<Ahh!>
Hope all is well with you! We're still here in the beautiful NW, but not for long. If all goes well, we'll close on the house in early July and be in Houston four days later - woo hoo!! By the way, thanks for the query; it's nice to finally have some time for one. All my research books are packed, but I've still got the work I've done and the 'net so I'll get on this one right away. Take care, Lynn
<YAY! Great to hear from you and your progress of moving back to TX.
Cheers, BobF>
Snail ID: 6/3/14
Regards, WWM folks.
<Hey Frank, Lynn here this evening.>
Thanks for such informative website.
<On behalf of Bob and everyone else involved, you’re most welcome!>
I was looking for pictures to match this snail but with no avail. I am attaching a picture and hope someone can provide me a description and let me know whether these guys are reef safe.
<Well, without more information, I can only offer that it’s likely something in one of the following three families: Phasianellidae/”Pheasant snails”, Littorinidae/”Periwinkles” or Planaxidae/”Clusterwinks”. I’m leaning towards one of the first two possibilities, but thankfully all are herbivores so your corals, other snails and livestock are in the clear. If you’d like to pursue the ID further, please send a photo of the underside of the snail, showing the aperture/opening. Also, I’d need to know the approximate size of the shell, where it originated (if you know) and more importantly, whether the operculum (the snail’s “trapdoor”) appears calcareous (thick/hard/stony-looking) or horny/proteinaceous (thin, flexible, usually brownish). Phasianellids have calcareous opercula while those of Littorinids and Planaxids are thin/horny. Also, both the Phasianellids and Littorinids have round to oval openings/apertures that are uninterrupted at the base, while the Planaxids have a “siphonal” notch. Please see the following links for examples of these families – just bear in mind that each species can vary to a surprising degree in color, pattern, and sometimes shape:
Phasianellidae: http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/TN_Family_PHASIANELLIDAE.shtml
Littorinidae: http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/TN_Family_LITTORINIDAE.shtml
Planaxidae: http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/TN_Family_PLANAXIDAE.shtml#PLANAXIDAEPLANAXINAE >
Thanks, Frank Navarro.
<You’re very welcome, Frank. Please let me/us know if there’s anything else we can do for you. Take care, Lynn Zurik>
Re: snail id. 6/4/14
Hi again, crew. Any suggestions about the snail?. Thanks, Frank.
<Suggestions? As in compatibility? Look up under the name... in books, the Net... BobF>

Please visit our Sponsors