Killer Nassarius snail?

[Danyen]

Last week, I lost one of my tonga fighting conchs, so I picked up two small nassarius snails. Today, I found one of them out and about. At first, he was spinning around and around with a hermit crab on his shell:



Then, after the zebra hermit had finished his ride, the nassarius went nuts. He started running.... well, sliming around and grabbing several of the astrea snails that were on the sand bed. Here's what it looked like:




I picked the nassarius off of the astrea and watched him do the same thing to another. I put the astreas off in a corner, and now one of those snails is dead. So, long story short with a few diversions for the pic police... will a nassarius eat astrea snails? If so, is it because he isn't getting enough to eat? My bioload is 1 occelaris, 1 six line, and one randall's goby... all of which are pretty young. I feed about 1/4 cube of frozen every day. Do I need to do something to make sure the nassarius is getting more food?

Thanks... oh, and here's a FTS. The tank is definitely still in transition. I have big plans for upgrading to a 40g in the next few weeks (hint hint... buildoff 08?!) I just wanted to show how I mounted my new tek lights. On the new system, I will use the tank brackets. For now, I'm making due with some ghetto shelf hangers from HD and some S hooks. It's working out pretty well... def. better than just sitting the lights on the tank top

[DarthOcellaris]

interesting...I've never known a nass snail to do that.

I like the light fixture

[Deuter]

Very intriguing snails you have! Oh if you plan on upgrading I would recomend you getting atleast a 65g or if you've got the budget a 90g!!! I got a 65g so I could keep most fish without them being too cramped, it fit my budget aswell, and it's a deceant size that'll take a while for you to outgrow. Just some advice.

[Loverotties]

Wow that's I had to see to believe.

[Danyen]

Thanks for the advice Deuter. I' had a 100g many years ago. I loved that tank, but My wife and I need something we can manage while we're both working and going back to school. I have a nice spot in the house for a 36" long tank, so 40-50g it is. I'll add the biggest sump I can to increase total water volume, but I'm not interested in a very large system. I also have to add in the fact that we have a bearded dragon that we're building a custom enclosure for, and there's only so much space to go around. I figure with our extra school costs, we'll have just enough money to outfit a 36" long tank nicely... so I'm sticking to it. I do appreciate the advice tho

[Danyen]

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Wow that's I had to see to believe.

I'm still not sure I believe it, but I think that both astreas that got slimed are now dead... so I'm quickly becoming convinced that I do in fact have a killer nassarius

[Fly Guy]

Ive seen those same tonga nassarius suck the life out of a bunch of snails. they are whelks

the first BB tabk I had had a clear glass bottom and within a couople months of taking the sand out there wasnt enough for them to eat so they started macking on every snail in the tank.

[Danyen]

I did just siphon the sand bed yesterday... maybe he was like... hey, give me back my dinner! and when I didn't he decided to munch on snails.

[reginanmc]

the first picture...of teh snail and the hermit, does no justice to actual moment. The snail was spinning around in circles while the Hermit was on top.......almost like he was riding the t-cups at d-land. It was really funny

[phiberop840]

Now that you mention it, I had a Nano that I tried to keep and I was loosing astrea snails left and right, I never knew why? Now I think that I have a good idea what was happening. Not enough food, then the nass went for the others. Hmmmmmm.....interesting.

Mike

[DevilBoy]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

Ive seen those same tonga nassarius suck the life out of a bunch of snails. they are whelks

the first BB tabk I had had a clear glass bottom and within a couople months of taking the sand out there wasnt enough for them to eat so they started macking on every snail in the tank.

I have also heard this that the tonga variety are whelks, which are meat eaters.

[mg]

Mine eat anything they can catch as well. If something falls upside down on the sandbed, there are normally about 5 or 6 of them on top of it pretty quickly. They do work well for cleaning up anything that dies though.

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by DevilBoy

I have also heard this that the tonga variety are whelks, which are meat eaters.

That would explain the urge for seafood

[toniell]

I thought these snails were scavengers maybe the snail was already dead?

[ChrisPrusha]

I don't think you want whelks in your tank.