Need a snail ID (no pics sorry)

Waxxiemann · 07/19/2007, 02:12 PM

I've got these 2 really big snails in my tank that live under the sand and they have round shells with a dark pattern on them (bad description I know).

They only come out when I feed frozen food and then they just book it around the tank like nuts and then bury themselves again.

I got them from a friend. Any idea what they are?

Thanks.

I'll go look to see if I can find a pic online of what they look like.

Travis L. Stevens · 07/19/2007, 02:20 PM

No idea, but Ilyanassa comes to mind.

pagojoe · 07/19/2007, 02:27 PM

How big? Round, glossy, and cigar shaped? Or round like a ball?

Like this?

http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_182.html

Don

Waxxiemann · 07/19/2007, 02:27 PM

When they are on the glass, their bodies EXACTLY like the ones in this picture.

http://www.saltaquatics.net/pics/NassariusSnails.jpg

They don't have the point at the end of their shells like the Ilyanassa you mentioned, Travis, the shell is round. It has kind of a leapord/camo type of pattern on it.

The body shape is right on thought. The length of thier bodies when they are on the glass is alsmost 3".

Waxxiemann · 07/19/2007, 02:34 PM

round like a ball, sorry, I know it's frustrating when there is no pictures guys.

I'm thinking they are super nass. snails, just in round shells? What do you guys think?

Travis L. Stevens · 07/19/2007, 02:48 PM

Funny, the picture you linked to were Ilyanassa Snails

Kannin · 07/19/2007, 03:04 PM

they sound like nassarius

Dubbin1 · 07/19/2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kannin
they sound like nassarius

Nassarius are not round like a ball.

Waxxiemann · 07/19/2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis L. Stevens
Funny, the picture you linked to were Ilyanassa Snails

I got that pic when I did a google search with that name. I just didn't see any with the round shell. So weird. I'll try and get some pics tonight if my G/F didn't take the camera to the lake.

That's right guys, no G/F all weekend! It's like a holiday for me AND her.

pagojoe · 07/19/2007, 11:08 PM

Yeah, Nassarius aren't round like a ball, and they all have pointed spires, at least to some degree. There are some relatives that have rounded spires, but they are way smaller than that. A photo would be great, anything that big should be really easy to ID. The feet of most snails look similar, which is why a pic of the bottom of a snail's foot isn't worth much for ID

Cheers,

Don

The Jawfish · 07/20/2007, 01:05 AM

cowries?
astrea?

The Jawfish · 07/20/2007, 01:05 AM

cowries?
astrea?

Anemone · 07/20/2007, 01:28 PM

Yeah, the "leopard/camo" description makes me think cowrie as well.

Kevin

pagojoe · 07/20/2007, 02:48 PM

Astraea snails have pointed spires, so it shouldn't be those. Cowries are shaped like a ball of course, and the description sounds right... but there are only a handful of species that large, and none of them will bury themselves in rubble or sand...? I'm still racking my brain, but may have to wait on a pic.

Cheers,

Don

The Jawfish · 03/12/2008, 01:05 PM

pagojoe.... what's that thing in your pic i think i have one of those but with mottled borwn colors....

07/19/2007, 02:12 PM	#1
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	Need a snail ID (no pics sorry) I've got these 2 really big snails in my tank that live under the sand and they have round shells with a dark pattern on them (bad description I know). They only come out when I feed frozen food and then they just book it around the tank like nuts and then bury themselves again. I got them from a friend. Any idea what they are? Thanks. I'll go look to see if I can find a pic online of what they look like. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Last edited by Waxxiemann; 07/19/2007 at 02:18 PM.

07/19/2007, 02:20 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	No idea, but Ilyanassa comes to mind. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

07/19/2007, 02:27 PM	#4
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	When they are on the glass, their bodies EXACTLY like the ones in this picture. http://www.saltaquatics.net/pics/NassariusSnails.jpg They don't have the point at the end of their shells like the Ilyanassa you mentioned, Travis, the shell is round. It has kind of a leapord/camo type of pattern on it. The body shape is right on thought. The length of thier bodies when they are on the glass is alsmost 3". __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Last edited by Waxxiemann; 07/19/2007 at 02:38 PM.

07/19/2007, 02:34 PM	#5
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	round like a ball, sorry, I know it's frustrating when there is no pictures guys. I'm thinking they are super nass. snails, just in round shells? What do you guys think? __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

07/19/2007, 02:48 PM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Funny, the picture you linked to were Ilyanassa Snails __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

07/19/2007, 02:27 PM	#3
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	How big? Round, glossy, and cigar shaped? Or round like a ball? Like this? http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_182.html Don

07/19/2007, 03:04 PM	#7
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	they sound like nassarius __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

07/19/2007, 11:08 PM	#10
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Yeah, Nassarius aren't round like a ball, and they all have pointed spires, at least to some degree. There are some relatives that have rounded spires, but they are way smaller than that. A photo would be great, anything that big should be really easy to ID. The feet of most snails look similar, which is why a pic of the bottom of a snail's foot isn't worth much for ID Cheers, Don

07/20/2007, 01:05 AM	#11
The Jawfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 22	cowries? astrea?

07/20/2007, 01:28 PM	#13
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Yeah, the "leopard/camo" description makes me think cowrie as well. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

07/20/2007, 02:48 PM	#14
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Astraea snails have pointed spires, so it shouldn't be those. Cowries are shaped like a ball of course, and the description sounds right... but there are only a handful of species that large, and none of them will bury themselves in rubble or sand...? I'm still racking my brain, but may have to wait on a pic. Cheers, Don

03/12/2008, 01:05 PM	#15
The Jawfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 22	pagojoe.... what's that thing in your pic i think i have one of those but with mottled borwn colors....