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02-06-2003, 02:23 PM
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#1
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 565
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Need help Identifing a whelk
I picked up a really cool snail at the LFS about a month ago and I have tried to ID it and I can't seem to find any good resources on Whelks on the web.
This little guy is about 1.25 inchs long and a white shell with a conical spiral. His foot and body are blood red with a light dusting of white spots in this blood red color. I have been keeping an eye on him to see what he might be eating and I have found him on the walls of my tank and on the rocks and sandbed but have not seen what he eats. I am not missing any Atreas or Nassarius snails (I haven't found any empty shells with holes in them.) so I don't know if he is harmless or something I should take back to the lfs. His foot coloring is really cool looking and if I can manage to get a picture I will post one.
I am hoping that someone has seen on like this and knows something about it or has a website that I might identify what he is and if he is friend or foe.
As always thank you for any information that you can pass on.
Earl
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02-06-2003, 04:43 PM
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#2
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The Border Collie Mod
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: right now? in my chair
Posts: 13,218
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Earl,
You don't happen to have a clam or any gorgonians do you?
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02-06-2003, 05:31 PM
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#3
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 565
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I was hoping you would chime in Jerel. No I don't have either. I think I am on the bare minimum in lighting to do both but I am a long way from doing either right now, maybe in a year to a year and a half. Do you know what species of whelk I am describing? I am going to try to get a picture of him tonight.
Earl
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02-06-2003, 06:12 PM
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#4
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The Border Collie Mod
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: right now? in my chair
Posts: 13,218
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Earl I don't have a clue. Usually we approach this in a highly scientific manner by placing different prey animals in with them. Then classify them according to what they are eating. Such as:
OH that's a oyster eating whelk.
That's a dead fish eating whelk.
Oops, that one's eating coral polyps!
etc
Jerel 
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02-06-2003, 11:56 PM
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#5
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 15,201
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Quote:
Originally posted by Spanky
... Then classify them according to what they are eating. Such as:
OH that's a oyster eating whelk.
That's a dead fish eating whelk.
Oops, that one's eating coral polyps!
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**Tom Shakes head, looks to see that it is after 5PM in the Keys...**
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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02-06-2003, 11:59 PM
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#6
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ROOTS...ROCKS...REGGAE
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: south suburbs of Chicago,Il USA
Posts: 1,214
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I know firsthand what a clam eating welk can do. I lost two nice clams to one. Nasty little buggers.
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02-07-2003, 12:04 AM
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#7
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 15,201
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Sooooo Jerel...
Does your resident gastropodologist have a reference book to suggest? I have this reference link but I am afraid a good bit of this site no longer works, I AM considering one of the Books available through Andrew Isles in OZ for a photoreference, but would value your suggestions for a text... ...although the highly objective parameters you've suggested to have a certain appeal when laced with the proper beverage...
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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02-07-2003, 12:05 AM
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#8
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 565
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Well I found out what it eats......My beautiful saphire blue tube worm. It went back to the LFS and I traded him in for an Astrea.  Well know I know about Whelks. Thank you for all your help and information.
Earl |
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02-07-2003, 08:02 AM
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#9
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The Border Collie Mod
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: right now? in my chair
Posts: 13,218
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So there you go, it's a sapphire blue tube worm eating whelk. Nothing like a proper identification.
Tom, I don't think there's a ID book out there. The way the names are changing and trying to ID them by looks and all. 
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02-07-2003, 09:58 AM
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#10
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 565
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Jerel,
I think he had munched an array of colored fan worms. I don't think he was picky on the color. I checked a few of my tubes where I know fan worms resided and they no longer are coming out of the tubes. Well it is now the fish stores problem and some other unsuspecting hobbist will say wow look at that cool colored red footed snail...... and it begins again. LOL I have replaced him with a useful and beneficial astrea.
Earl |
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02-07-2003, 10:36 AM
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#11
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The Border Collie Mod
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: right now? in my chair
Posts: 13,218
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OH, then you have the common eats anything it can get it's hands on Caribbean whelk - Thais haemostoma.
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