Isn't this a cool snail?

[Crush Coral]

I am glad to show you a cool snail I have, tow of them actually. They spend most of their time in my crushed coral substrate. Been the for about 6 months nowhttp://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn448/crushcoral/tankpictures007.jpg.

[Tang Salad]

Very cool!
Is it a Nassarius?

[Crush Coral]

it's white and brown - means I don't know. The shell is about 1 1/4" long.

[aslavatortin]

Tongan nassarius to be specific; if they are anything like the "regular" strain of nassarius, be prepared for some babies. I personally love nassarius.

[Tang Salad]

I love them, too! By far my favorite snail. I love how they come out of the sand like zombies at the smell of food. :bum:

CC: Your's has a very nice shell pattern.

[Gary Majchrzak]

looks like a Babylonia to me :rolleyes:

http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_10.html

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=524711&highlight=babylonia

[Crush Coral]

guess people other than me like these guys too. I had 3, now down to 2.

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12854632#post12854632 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
looks like a Babylonia to me :rolleyes:

http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_10.html

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=524711&highlight=babylonia
Thanks, I thought the shell looked different.

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12854702#post12854702 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crush Coral
guess people other than me like these guys too. I had 3, now down to 2.
one down, two to go-
they make excellent shells for the curio cabinet ;)

[gbcichlids]

Nassarius Vibrex I think. Hangs out in the "strate" until it smells(?) food.
Very Nice!

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12854888#post12854888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gbcichlids
Nassarius Vibrex I think. Hangs out in the "strate" until it smells(?) food.
Very Nice!
Buhler! :lol:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php

[aslavatortin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12854927#post12854927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
Buhler! :lol:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php

Well, excuse the crap out of us for not seeking an independent taxonomical breakdown of what is being sold ALL OVER THE PLACE as Tongan or Super Tongan Nassarius.

[aslavatortin]

They do make excellent shells for the curio cabinet, though...:thumbsup:

[Gary Majchrzak]

you could have just said "thanks for the link". Try it sometime ;)

[Tang Salad]

Heck I'll say thanks again ;)

I really like the article about the Ilyanassa, I hadn't read it in a long time.

[jpitts101]

smart snail, with gas prices so high i would be hitching a ride too!

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12855256#post12855256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Heck I'll say thanks again ;)

I really like the article about the Ilyanassa, I hadn't read it in a long time.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

many species of snails eat other invertebrates which makes them a poor choice for reef aquariums.
Some of the best herbivorous snails for a reef aquarium are Astrea (conehead), Turbo (Turban), and Stomatella

[Tang Salad]

And just for clarity's sake, here's a pic of two Nassarius I just took.
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8203/p6301007xd7.jpg/
I believe it to be Nassarius vibrex. Opinions?

[Gary Majchrzak]

compare to:

http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_1930.html

[Tang Salad]

Wow! Each link is better than the last! :) :)

Comparing the pictures I'd say it looks extremely similar. The ridges on mine seem more worn down and rounded. Maybe geographic/environmental variation...?

Is it possible to ID without looking closely at the shell opening?

Thanks again :D

[Tang Salad]

Holy Smokes! There are about Eighty different species of Nassarius! (http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/Family_NASSARIIDAE_NASSARIINAE.html)

I will now say I have no idea if mine are Nassarius vibrex, but I'm fairly certain they are Nassarius. :lol:

[pagojoe]

LOL I'm sorry I missed this thread for so long... the top snails are Babylonia species. They aren't sold as Tongan Nassarius, that's a different species that doesn't have spots (Nassarius coronatus and N. arcularius). They are sometimes sold as "Fancy Nassarius" though, which they are not. They are primarily scavengers, but are capable of killing other molluscs.

The ones in Tang's pic are Nassarius distortus.

Cheers,



Don

[Tang Salad]

Many thanks Don! :)

Was there some easy identifying mark you saw in my photos? Just wondering how you're able to nail down the species...

[DLANDINO]

great with butter and garlic too!

[pagojoe]

YW Tang. As for eating them, I seem to recall that a bunch of people in China? got very sick or died from eating Babylonia snails. I could probably Google it and eventually find the report. There was another case of poisoning from eating Olive snails, Oliva miniacea or O. sericea I think. Maybe you should take just an itty bitty bite first to see if it kills you before you cook too many of them....

Cheers,



Don

[pagojoe]

I didn't really answer your title question though, Crush. Yes, they are very cool snails, and some of the most attractive species that you can keep easily in your reef tank. I believe yours are Babylonia areolata:

http://www.gastropods.com/8/Shell_8.html

Cheers,


Don