Snail ID - Whelk?? or other?

dragonladylea · 12-01-2006, 09:13 AM

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*** · 12-01-2006, 02:36 PM

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be easier to identify (for someone posessing the skill) if you could provide images of the aperture with the animal withdrawn into the shell.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** · 12-01-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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???

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 · 12-01-2006, 06:57 PM

This snail is about 1/2 in in length.

greenbean36191 · 12-01-2006, 07:47 PM

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 · 12-01-2006, 08:11 PM

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 · 12-01-2006, 11:39 PM

Needs to go.

dragonladylea · 12-02-2006, 12:01 PM

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*** · 12-02-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 12-02-2006, 04:42 PM

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*** · 12-02-2006, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!!

All's well that ends well...

turq · 07-27-2008, 05:42 PM

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** · 07-27-2008, 07:18 PM

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".

12-01-2006, 09:13 AM	#1
dragonladylea Citizen Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Millington Mich Posts: 129	Snail ID - Whelk?? or other? 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??? __________________ When I've learned everything - bury me!!

12-01-2006, 02:36 PM	#2
*zhenya* Owner Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: new jersey,usa Posts: 7,878	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. __________________ Kind regards, Gene.

12-01-2006, 06:57 PM	#4
dragonladylea Citizen Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Millington Mich Posts: 129	This snail is about 1/2 in in length. __________________ When I've learned everything - bury me!!

12-01-2006, 07:47 PM	#5
greenbean36191 Citizen Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Auburn/Huntsville, AL Posts: 239	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. __________________ If you can't change the world, change history- TRT

12-01-2006, 08:11 PM	#6
dragonladylea Citizen Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Millington Mich Posts: 129	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! __________________ When I've learned everything - bury me!!

12-01-2006, 11:39 PM	#7
greenbean36191 Citizen Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Auburn/Huntsville, AL Posts: 239	Needs to go. __________________ If you can't change the world, change history- TRT

12-02-2006, 12:01 PM	#8
dragonladylea Citizen Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Millington Mich Posts: 129	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. __________________ When I've learned everything - bury me!! Last edited by dragonladylea; 12-02-2006 at 12:30 PM.

12-02-2006, 04:42 PM	#10
dragonladylea Citizen Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Millington Mich Posts: 129	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!! __________________ When I've learned everything - bury me!!

07-27-2008, 05:42 PM	#12
turq New in Town Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: CA Posts: 1	Re: Snail ID - Whelk?? or other? 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

07-27-2008, 07:18 PM	#13
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,692	Re: Snail ID - Whelk?? or other? 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". __________________ Ninong

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