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View Full Version : Snail ID- Friend or Foe?

BeanMachine
12/09/2009, 06:40 PM
Hello,

I saw this little snail on one of my frags. The shell is cone shaped that comes to a point at one end. The pattern on the shell itself is striped, sort of like a zebra.

These pics are the best I can do.

The little guy is out in the backyard (when in doubt, throw it out), but I'm sure my display has more if I had one.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/jbean7693/MiscSnailShots002.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/jbean7693/MiscSnailShots003.jpg


Thanks in advance.
theyammieguy
12/09/2009, 07:58 PM
Is it a bumble bee?
Chiefsurfer
12/09/2009, 08:29 PM
doesn't look striped the right way. Looks like a good old common snail. I think it would have been fine. Where it was, did it look like it did any damage?
Mmckibben
12/09/2009, 08:49 PM
I don't know the species, but I found a shell on the beach that looked like that. It was about two or three inches big.
BeanMachine
12/09/2009, 08:53 PM
I guess I should have mentioned it was pretty small, a little less than a quarter inch. I don't think it's a bumblebee, no yellow and the shell was more cone shaped. The stripes aren't uniform, more like lightning bolts up close.
BeanMachine
12/09/2009, 08:58 PM
I have cerith, astrea, bumblebee, and nassarius snails in the tank. Didn't look like any of those.
Chiefsurfer
12/09/2009, 09:01 PM
I have heard before that snails skip town on their shells for whatever reason(rare as it may be). Maybe he is a cerith or something that ditched his shell in the wild and found this, which may have been home to a hermit at one time?
plyle02
12/09/2009, 09:02 PM
Perhaps a whelk of some sort, if so be careful... the pic is blurry, perhaps a better closer pic will assist in its id...GL
BeanMachine
12/09/2009, 09:22 PM
I don't think it looks like a whelk.
tmz
12/09/2009, 09:36 PM
Hard to tell from the picture but the shape of the shell does resemble a whelk. Is it shaped like your bumble bee which is a whelk btw?
BeanMachine
12/10/2009, 11:37 AM
Hard to tell from the picture but the shape of the shell does resemble a whelk. Is it shaped like your bumble bee which is a whelk btw?

I learn something new here every day! I searched for whelk pics on the net and none seemed to resemble this guy. I had no idea bumblebee snails are a type as well.

Another post mentioned if they are, that I might have something to worry about. Why is that? Do they get big or play chemical warfare of some kind?

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Anyone know what this guy is???? I'll continue my search.
Sugar Magnolia
12/10/2009, 11:40 AM
You may want to post a clearer pic in the invertebrates forum and see if Pagojoe can give you a positive ID. He's the local snail guru.
BeanMachine
12/10/2009, 11:57 AM
That pic was the best I could do... Iphone with a magnifying glass!

OK, I'll put a link to this thread in that forum.
Chloe1
12/10/2009, 12:02 PM
I have never heard of a snail getting into a different shell. Hermit crabs yes.
BeanMachine
12/10/2009, 04:45 PM
bump
r20crazy
12/10/2009, 06:52 PM
looks like a nano conch to me. shells come in all different patterns. did it have a 'snorkle'?

http://www.fragglereef.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=3085
skinnyboy81
12/10/2009, 08:05 PM
I have heard before that snails skip town on their shells for whatever reason(rare as it may be). Maybe he is a cerith or something that ditched his shell in the wild and found this, which may have been home to a hermit at one time?
i would have to disagree with this...snails are gastropods and their shell is part of the body that they can not ditch.