Please help!!! Cleaner Shrimp and Snails

[mdock]

Did my Nassarius snails kill my cleaner shrimp??? I just noticed them all on the shrimp today. He was fine earlier. I couldn’t get them off him. What should I do? Did I do something wrong with him? I thought they only eat dead things so maybe he died and they got to him right away?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Did my Nassarius snails kill my cleaner shrimp??? I just noticed them all on the shrimp today. He was fine earlier. I couldn’t get them off him. What should I do? Did I do something wrong with him? I thought they only eat dead things so maybe he died and they got to him right away?

This appears to be a molt that they are eating for calcium. If molt, your shrimp is hiding while its skeleton hardens then will come out again
Also please take pics under white light of the snouts of the snails and these may be whelk, similar to nassarius snails which will attack other inverts

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I agree that what you see is a molt. Look around for the shrimp.

 

[DaJMasta]

Worth mentioning that nassarius snails are also often some of the first scavengers to reach anything dead, so the next time one appears in something that appears dead, them being on the scene of the crime only means they smelled it first. I have yet to see a nassarius kill anything we'd consider livestock, but I've absolutely seen them first in the scene when something dies.

 

[mdock]

This appears to be a molt that they are eating for calcium. If molt, your shrimp is hiding while its skeleton hardens then will come out again
Also please take pics under white light of the snouts of the snails and these may be whelk, similar to nassarius snails which will attack other inverts

I’ve had molts before. No shrimp to be found… I’m super bummed out… these pictures are the snails. If it burying in the sand it’s not a whelk right?

 

[mdock]

I agree that what you see is a molt. Look around for the shrimp.

No shrimp to be found… super bummed……. Those snails aren’t whelks right?

 

[vetteguy53081]

No shrimp to be found… super bummed……. Those snails aren’t whelks right?

Whelks will go into the sand while using their snouts to breathe

 

[mdock]

Worth mentioning that nassarius snails are also often some of the first scavengers to reach anything dead, so the next time one appears in something that appears dead, them being on the scene of the crime only means they smelled it first. I have yet to see a nassarius kill anything we'd consider livestock, but I've absolutely seen them first in the scene when something dies.

Part 2 of reply to show stalk of snail

 

[mdock]

Whelks will go into the sand while using their snouts to breathe

This is his stalk. Is it a whelk? Should I chuck it? It’s the larger black shell just buried.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is his stalk. Is it a whelk? Should I chuck it? It’s the larger black shell just buried.

I believe so. Dark and tattooed snout.

Here is for reference/difference:

Bottom is nassarius which also has a tail that trails the shell

 

[mdock]

I believe so. Dark and tattooed snout.

Here is for reference/difference:

Bottom is nassarius which also has a tail that trails the shell

I don’t see the tattooed on it but it is dark. All nassarius are light colored then?

What should I do with it? Eliminate it? Could it have killed the shrimp?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I don’t see the tattooed on it but it is dark. All nassarius are light colored then?

What should I do with it? Eliminate it? Could it have killed the shrimp?

Place in sump

 

[mdock]

Place in sump

Here’s a better set of pictures. Definitely whelk?

Also I don’t have a sump. Any other ideas?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here’s a better set of pictures. Definitely whelk?

Also I don’t have a sump. Any other ideas?

better pic, yes. Looks like nassarius and may also have eggs showing

 

[mdock]

better pic, yes. Looks like nassarius and may also have eggs showing

So I should be good to put her back in the tank then? She didn’t hurt the shrimp?

 

[EricR]

So I should be good to put her back in the tank then? She didn’t hurt the shrimp?

Sort of seems like a stretch to me that even a predatory whelk could harm a healthy skunk cleaner shrimp,,, but I could be wrong.

FWIW, the farthest back one (not on the shrimp) in your first picture is what my LFS sells as nassarius vibex (whether mislabeled or not) and I've never had a problem with THOSE ones.

 

[mdock]

better pic, yes. Looks like nassarius and may also have eggs showing

Any other thoughts on it today? Good to go back in tank or no?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any other thoughts on it today? Good to go back in tank or no?

Should be safe to return

 

[jabberwock]

Whelk has leopard print on the soft bits...