Snail ID - Whelk?? or other?

[dragonladylea]

Can anyone shed some light on this snail? I have only had one response to this Id in another forum and the person thought it was a Whelk? I'm not sure though that its not from the Nassarius family. Thoughts anyone???

[zhenya]

I had once a snail that Dr.Shimek identified for me as a whelk from the genus Thais. It resemles your snails remarkably...

It would be easier to identify (for someone posessing the skill) if you could provide images of the aperture with the animal withdrawn into the shell. That could be done by removing the snail from the tank and placing it in the small dish.

PS. This snail was identified as Thais hemostoma by Dr.Ron, by the way. It was responsible for the death of couple of small Tridacnas.

[Ninong]

Can anyone shed some light on this snail? I have only had one response to this Id in another forum and the person thought it was a Whelk? I'm not sure though that its not from the Nassarius family. Thoughts anyone???

The Family Nassariidae are called Dog Whelks. Whatever you have, it does not appear to be the same as my Nassarius vibex snails because the foot is much too small and, from what I can see of it, the proboscis appears to be not nearly long enough, although I guess it could be retracted.

I'm pretty sure we can rule out Nassarius vibex, which is the most commonly available beneficial species in the hobby.

What is the size of your snail? I can't tell from the photograph.

[dragonladylea]

This snail is about 1/2 in in length.

[greenbean36191]

It's definitely a whelk, but without better pics it's hard to tell what kind. My first impression is that it's a muricid of some sort.

[dragonladylea]

So is it a keeper or does it need to go? Must have been a hitchhiker but it usually hangs out on the glass like the pic (was there for 3 days). LMK and Thanks!

[greenbean36191]

Needs to go.

[dragonladylea]

Ok needs to go what do I do with it, I have a hard time hurting any animal no matter what it is. Silly, I know but its how I am.

Another pic not very good I'm afraid.

[zhenya]

Ok needs to go what do I do with it, I have a hard time hurting any animal no matter what it is. Silly, I know but its how I am.

I hear you there... if you have a sump with some live rock or fuge you can possibly move it there. If your refugium don;t have anything that this whelk can harm then it can probably live out his life there. I know I would move him in my fuge cause I don;t have much in there except algae and mass of mysids.
Maybe your local store has a small species tank they can put it in?

[dragonladylea]

Just got back from our local frag swap and my usual LFS is taking him to put in his sump. He also gave me a stomatella which of course I like. So nice ending to a hitchhiker story and nothing got hurt!!

[zhenya]

Just got back from our local frag swap and my usual LFS is taking him to put in his sump. He also gave me a stomatella which of course I like. So nice ending to a hitchhiker story and nothing got hurt!!

All's well that ends well...

[turq]

A friend gave me a Knobby Whelk that is 22" long! Can anyone tell me where it came from, to get that big???? Thx, Turq

[Ninong]

Hi turq,




I have no idea where it came from to get that big. According to this website, maximum adult size is 240 mm (9.45"). I have seen other sources claim maximum adult size as high as 12" but none that claim 22".