Nassarius Snail eating hermit crabs

[Willyboz1]

I been seeing legs of my hermit on my sandbed. I thought they were molting. But I've been seeing more than legs the past 2 days. I've lost 3 snails and I finally caught the culprit. Is this normal or do I have a whelk snail and not a nassarius. I've also lost 2 cleaner shrimp that I bought from lfs. I acclimated them both properly but they still died. I hope this guy is not the murderer too for my shrimps.

 

[Titanwerx]

I don't see a snail killing a crab or a shrimp. Look for something else, a fish, not enough food, stray voltage, water quality or something poisoning them.


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[Jetsetter57]

You sure the crabs and shrimp aren't just shedding their skin(molting)? I thought the same thing when I started but at night I'd see the peppermint shrimps out and counting hermits always had the right amount.

 

[TheTodd]

I'm drawing a blank on the name, but I've heard that there is a snail that looks similar to Nassarius but that are extremely aggressive. Someone help me out here...

 

[|FATHOM|]

I'm drawing a blank on the name, but I've heard that there is a snail that looks similar to Nassarius but that are extremely aggressive. Someone help me out here...

Probably a whelk. The shell in this article is different but there are many different kinds of whelks. They will destroy clams like no ones business http://www.melevsreef.com/node/397

 

[Willyboz1]

You sure the crabs and shrimp aren't just shedding their skin(molting)? I thought the same thing when I started but at night I'd see the peppermint shrimps out and counting hermits always had the right amount.

No I've seen them molt. It's legs only. This was like the legs and body was pulled out from the shell

 

[Willyboz1]

Probably a whelk. The shell in this article is different but there are many different kinds of whelks. They will destroy clams like no ones business http://www.melevsreef.com/node/397

Can anyone confirm that its a whelk? I'm gonna have to remove that guy if he is.

 

[BeanMachine]

Can anyone confirm that its a whelk? I'm gonna have to remove that guy if he is.

It looks like a type of nassarius to me. But they are carnivores so I wouldn't put it past the larger ones to eat certain critters especially if they weren't in good health.

 

[russ13]

There is a snail that looks similar and has one of the deadliest neurotoxins known to exist. I wonder if any have ever wound up in a tank


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[Willyboz1]

Now I'm just waiting to see if I lose more hermits. Then I'm gonna assume this guy is a whelk and remove him. Water parameters are fine. I do weekly water changes.

 

[thegrun]

Often times members of the CUC get blamed for a kill when all they are doing is eating something that has already died or is close to death. I suspect that is the case here, the crab was already dead and the snail is simply taking advantage of a free meal.