Smooth shell nassarius?

[b.branscombe]

So I ordered 50 nassarius snails, the tiny ones. Most had the typical nassarius shell, but a couple had a very smooth shell. Is this a type of nassarius, or did I get a couple of bunk and potentially harmful snails? I'll get pics as soon as I can find one.

[Ebmorri]

There are alot of snails on ebay that they call nassarius and say "Reef safe" but they are neither. It seems that they come from N.C or S.C. here in the States. Theses snails have been covered in ReefKeeping mag some time ago. I will see if I can find the story so you can compare.

Heres the story http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php

Good Luck.

[b.branscombe]

These are from florida and they came from a dealer. I know that the majority are true nassarius, but they are so tiny that I can see a couple intruders slipping through the cracks.

[b.branscombe]

I just looked at the article. It was very helpful. The majority in the tank have a shell exactly like the Nassarius vibex, but the others have a shell much smoother than the Ilyanassa. Smooth as in no ridges, think cone snail smooth.

[b.branscombe]

Okay, here are pics:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/aquarium_photos/snail3.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/aquarium_photos/snail2.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/aquarium_photos/snail1.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/aquarium_photos/DSC00171.jpg

[reefkoi]

Very nice article. I wish I had seen it before I ordered 1000 of the snails off ebay. They all ended up dying, within a month I'd say. I guess they couldnt handle the temp. Good thing they died it sounds like.
I like what the author also says, if its too good to be true it probably is. This is so true in reefs and everything in life really.
Chris

[jsdratm]

I have had about 20 Obsoleta's in my tank for several months with no deaths so far. I think they can survive for some time, but just won't be able to reproduce.

[Paintbug]

the worst part of the Ilyanassa are the flukes they sometimes carry!

[greenbean36191]

They look like marginellids of some sort. Most are thought to be predators of small mollusks, but some seem to be harmless in reef tanks.

[b.branscombe]

Am I better off removing them?