Carnivores?

xxaquanutxx · 06/01/2008, 09:13 PM

Because the LFS here on island does not sell inverts, Hubby and I had to resort to the tidal pools in our back yard. We got a couple small snails, some hermit crabs, brittle stars and feather dusters.

Our LR had a christmas tree worm and another piece has some polyps on it.

Over the past couple days my hubby noticed one of the snails on a piece of LR very close to where the christmas tree worm resides, but there is no worm anymore...

Is it possible we could have a toxic or carnivorous snail? The hubby noticed him next to one of the polyps not too long ago and moved him to the other side of the tank ( the snail ).

We are working on getting pics now. Any help would be great!

xxaquanutxx · 06/01/2008, 09:30 PM

OK, here are a couple pics:

Aquarist007 · 06/01/2008, 09:51 PM

You guys make me remember the time our best friends had a condo in the cayman islands that backed onto the ocean--like 38 years ago. I used to walk and fish in those tidal pools every morning and the water would be jumping with parrot fish. I was really into fresh water fish at that time so I was discouraged from bringing home an air bag full of inverts ect from those tidal pools
I did smuggle six land crabs home in the inner pocket of my jacket--sand and all

You are very fortunate to live there

try this site for your identifications--is great

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

sunfish11 · 06/01/2008, 10:40 PM

Yes, there are many carnivorous snails and inverts. You have to be carefull about what you put in your reef and get a solid identification before you add them.

Lisa

xxaquanutxx · 06/01/2008, 10:51 PM

these came from the same place where the LR came from (our backyard) Their shell is coralline-encrusted and probably blended right in.

sunfish11 · 06/01/2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xxaquanutxx
these came from the same place where the LR came from (our backyard) Their shell is coralline-encrusted and probably blended right in.

It must be nice...LOL!

Lisa

pagojoe · 06/02/2008, 01:11 AM

Hi aquanut,

I believe both of your snails are muricids, which would indicate they are carnivorous (but not toxic). Some species primarily scavenge, while others are effective predators. I think the spiny one in the top photo is probably Muricopsis oxytata, although it could be an exceptionally spiny specimen of Trachypollia nodulosa.

http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_1896.html
http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_1900.html

The snail with the heavy encrustations could be one of several different species. It's most likely either a smoother version of Trachypollia nodulosa or else its Muricopsis caribbaeus.

http://www.gastropods.com/8/Shell_24138.html

Either of these could have potentially eaten your christmas tree worm.

Cheers,

Don

xxaquanutxx · 06/02/2008, 09:35 AM

Thanks all! We are sending them back to the sea today! With proper acclimation of course

xxaquanutxx · 06/02/2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pagojoe
Hi aquanut,

I believe both of your snails are muricids, which would indicate they are carnivorous (but not toxic). Some species primarily scavenge, while others are effective predators. I think the spiny one in the top photo is probably Muricopsis oxytata, although it could be an exceptionally spiny specimen of Trachypollia nodulosa.

http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_1896.html
http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_1900.html

The snail with the heavy encrustations could be one of several different species. It's most likely either a smoother version of Trachypollia nodulosa or else its Muricopsis caribbaeus.

http://www.gastropods.com/8/Shell_24138.html

Either of these could have potentially eaten your christmas tree worm.

Cheers,

Don

That's some great info Don. Thanks!

06/01/2008, 09:13 PM	#1
xxaquanutxx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Posts: 1,075	Carnivores? Because the LFS here on island does not sell inverts, Hubby and I had to resort to the tidal pools in our back yard. We got a couple small snails, some hermit crabs, brittle stars and feather dusters. Our LR had a christmas tree worm and another piece has some polyps on it. Over the past couple days my hubby noticed one of the snails on a piece of LR very close to where the christmas tree worm resides, but there is no worm anymore... Is it possible we could have a toxic or carnivorous snail? The hubby noticed him next to one of the polyps not too long ago and moved him to the other side of the tank ( the snail ). We are working on getting pics now. Any help would be great! __________________ Fish Girl Signing off! Current Tank Info: Starting it all over from scratch! 1- 10G amazon tank, 1-10G planted goldfish tank...Working on: 2- 5.5G Nano, 1-2G Hex Nano, 1-10G Nano, 1-65G Predator tank.... Future project in January: 1-65G Reef, 1-55G Reef, 1-55G split cichlid/Shablunkin tank.

06/01/2008, 09:30 PM	#2
xxaquanutxx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Posts: 1,075	OK, here are a couple pics: __________________ Fish Girl Signing off! Current Tank Info: Starting it all over from scratch! 1- 10G amazon tank, 1-10G planted goldfish tank...Working on: 2- 5.5G Nano, 1-2G Hex Nano, 1-10G Nano, 1-65G Predator tank.... Future project in January: 1-65G Reef, 1-55G Reef, 1-55G split cichlid/Shablunkin tank.

06/01/2008, 09:51 PM	#3
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	You guys make me remember the time our best friends had a condo in the cayman islands that backed onto the ocean--like 38 years ago. I used to walk and fish in those tidal pools every morning and the water would be jumping with parrot fish. I was really into fresh water fish at that time so I was discouraged from bringing home an air bag full of inverts ect from those tidal pools I did smuggle six land crabs home in the inner pocket of my jacket--sand and all You are very fortunate to live there try this site for your identifications--is great http://www.melevsreef.com/id/ __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

06/01/2008, 10:51 PM	#5
xxaquanutxx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Posts: 1,075	these came from the same place where the LR came from (our backyard) Their shell is coralline-encrusted and probably blended right in. __________________ Fish Girl Signing off! Current Tank Info: Starting it all over from scratch! 1- 10G amazon tank, 1-10G planted goldfish tank...Working on: 2- 5.5G Nano, 1-2G Hex Nano, 1-10G Nano, 1-65G Predator tank.... Future project in January: 1-65G Reef, 1-55G Reef, 1-55G split cichlid/Shablunkin tank.

06/02/2008, 09:35 AM	#8
xxaquanutxx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Posts: 1,075	Thanks all! We are sending them back to the sea today! With proper acclimation of course __________________ Fish Girl Signing off! Current Tank Info: Starting it all over from scratch! 1- 10G amazon tank, 1-10G planted goldfish tank...Working on: 2- 5.5G Nano, 1-2G Hex Nano, 1-10G Nano, 1-65G Predator tank.... Future project in January: 1-65G Reef, 1-55G Reef, 1-55G split cichlid/Shablunkin tank.

06/01/2008, 10:40 PM	#4
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	Yes, there are many carnivorous snails and inverts. You have to be carefull about what you put in your reef and get a solid identification before you add them. Lisa

06/02/2008, 01:11 AM	#7
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Hi aquanut, I believe both of your snails are muricids, which would indicate they are carnivorous (but not toxic). Some species primarily scavenge, while others are effective predators. I think the spiny one in the top photo is probably Muricopsis oxytata, although it could be an exceptionally spiny specimen of Trachypollia nodulosa. http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_1896.html http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_1900.html The snail with the heavy encrustations could be one of several different species. It's most likely either a smoother version of Trachypollia nodulosa or else its Muricopsis caribbaeus. http://www.gastropods.com/8/Shell_24138.html Either of these could have potentially eaten your christmas tree worm. Cheers, Don