Snail ID

**R. Deschain** · 07-15-2007, 05:35 PM

I have recently run across two snail hitchhikers in my tank and was wondering if i could get some help ID'ing them.

Snail #1
IMG_3874.jpg

Snail #2
IMG_3873.jpg

Also, is this cerith snail laying eggs?
IMG_3864.jpg

Thanks!

**Stevej72** · 07-15-2007, 08:56 PM

Pic 1
Looks like a Nassarius Snail

Pic 2
Looks like a Cerith Snail

Pic 3
I cant see any eggs, but the snail looks like a turbo

**R. Deschain** · 07-15-2007, 09:06 PM

Thanks steve.

The last picture is definately a cerith snail, you can't see him because he's behind the heater. The white stuff on the back of the tank thats kind of diamond, trapazoid shaped. What ever it was, the Cerith was laying it, and my clownfish was eating it!

**BrianPlankis** · 07-17-2007, 09:10 AM

Hey there,

It is difficult to determine which snails you have from the pictures provided. Typically the snail needs to be taken out of the water and positioned carefully to have a chance at an ID beyond a common name.

Your first picture could easily be a Nassarius snail (usually good), a Columbellid snail (usually good) or a Whelk (usually bad). You can see some example identification pictures in this thread, post #5:

Columbellid sp. (Easy) - Project DIBS Forums

The most important picture is the first one showing the shell opening with the snail completely withdrawn into the shell.

Your second picture could be a cerith snail, but it could also be numerous other Genus of snails, some of them good, some of them bad. I cannot tell from that picture, if you could take additional pictures I could try to narrow it down some or point you to someone who might be able to help.

Brian

**R. Deschain** · 07-17-2007, 08:05 PM

Thanks for the input Brian.

You can't tell the scale from the pictures that I posted. Both of these guys were very small. As they grow out a bit, I might have better luck getting some pictures with better angles.

I'll keep y'all posted.

**R. Deschain** · 07-27-2007, 11:07 PM

My little hitchhiker has grown in the last 2 weeks. He (she?) is looking like a Columbelloid sp.

I'm sure this little guy enjoyed the diatom bloom that my tank just went through

IMG_4047.jpg

**BrianPlankis** · 07-27-2007, 11:12 PM

Very cute little guy/girl! It does look like a Columbellid to me as well.

Brian

**Pescaiolo** · 09-02-2007, 09:05 PM

What kind of rock did they come on? Caribbean or Pacific? The middle snail looks like a Conus. Please be careful handling that one because Conus are venomous and can be fatal.

Here is what a conus shell looks like:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ulatus-001.jpg

Please be careful, Id hate to hear something bad happened.