Just discovered this Killer snail (believe to be a whelk?) this morning, caught Shell Handed. Last night I noticed the suspect hitching a ride on the shell of a striped trochus snail. I thought better of it, but curiosity got the better of me and I decided to see how things played out and wait till morning, after all I didn’t feel I’d noticed an abnormally large amount of dead snails and hadn’t added added anything new in almost 2 months, (albeit, it is a new tank of almost 5 months.
Well anyways, this morning I came down and found the striped trochus in the sand with the suspect still on its’ shell. I should’ve gotten pics, but my first instinct was to remove it as soon as possible. After removal I noticed a tiny (less than 1/16th of an inch) bore hole on the shell where the killer snail was.
Then I looked at a few of the empty shells I’d pulled out of the tank, and found a matching bore hole in another striped trochus shell.
I Should’ve known better, but I also wanted to know “for sure” if it was a killer needing to be removed. Just adds more creedanfe to the old adage: “if you don’t know, it don’t go.” Now I just have it in a cup not sure what to do with it, I mean it is a cool animal in its own right, but can’t hang in the schoolyard if you can’t play nice.
There was still movement from the attacked snail so we’ll just hope for a recovery and keep an eye on it.
Mug shots are included.
Well anyways, this morning I came down and found the striped trochus in the sand with the suspect still on its’ shell. I should’ve gotten pics, but my first instinct was to remove it as soon as possible. After removal I noticed a tiny (less than 1/16th of an inch) bore hole on the shell where the killer snail was.
Then I looked at a few of the empty shells I’d pulled out of the tank, and found a matching bore hole in another striped trochus shell.
I Should’ve known better, but I also wanted to know “for sure” if it was a killer needing to be removed. Just adds more creedanfe to the old adage: “if you don’t know, it don’t go.” Now I just have it in a cup not sure what to do with it, I mean it is a cool animal in its own right, but can’t hang in the schoolyard if you can’t play nice.
There was still movement from the attacked snail so we’ll just hope for a recovery and keep an eye on it.
Mug shots are included.