Killer Snail

I recently started a thread asking of snails of different species could mate. Well last night I found one of the snails I thought were mating is missing from the shell. I think my turbo snail is eating my other snails. Is this possible? It is the biggest snail and usually does the most cleaning so don't really want to take it out, but if it is going to kill all my other snails I think I will. Thanks Rob

 

he could be a cannibal.......

 

For the most part, snail are wholly herbivorous grazers, but fighting for the bigger shell isnt to far fetched. Luna

 

snails cant leave their shells though.......weird :-/

 

Shells grow as the snail grows, hence the spiral effect on the shell. No need for the snail to look for a bigger home.

May have been a sparring match.

 

definitely can't leave their shells, it was probably dead, and the other snail was scavenging.

 

By the way is the snail really a turbo snail? Many snails are sold as such in the hobby, but there are usually not true turbos. Most snails in the sea are predatory, feeding on smaller snails and bivavles. While many of them do not look like turbos, if you are new to saltwater tanks, you may not know what a true turbo looks like so that is why I ask.

 

Not really sure if it is or isn't. Just was told it was. I'll try to get a pic posted tomorrow and I will let you make the decision. Rob

 

Well...Turbos don't scavenge (they also can't mate with Astraeas) as they are strictly algae eaters, so either the Turbo's proximity was a coincidence, or it's not a Turbo. If you can get a pic, I'm sure we'll be able to ID it. A couple of views will be better, and try to avoid taking a pic of the bottom of the foot if you get a chance to take pics. I've always had better luck taking the snail out of the tank and photographing it in a dish of water, so you might consider trying that.

Cheers,



Don

 

Thats the most absurd thing Ive heard here since last week. Snails dont fight for shells. They grow their own...

There are several snails that are predators. Some eat corals (sundial snail for example) some eat other snails (Tulip snail).