They look like conchs to me. Whether or not they are "queen" is likely, but tought to determine from the pics.
I'll also throw in the usual caution about things from the ocean in tanks... disease, parasites, pollution, predation yada yada yada.
I would not put them in your tank. Lots of snails have similar shaped shells, but some are predatory and some are harmless. Until you have a firm ID, you're taking a big risk.
Looked them up and they are protected. I Had no idea, going to put them back where I found them right now.
Worried me for a second. Florida wildlife Officer ID them as crown conch's. worried for a minute
Well I'd say for the future, it's not wise to capture wild animals, keep them, and release them back into the wild. It's not a good idea, and can cause more harm!!!
yeah i think that you are correct. Im sure it is a myth that was started by people in the business of selling marine animals. I live in minnesota and lake superior is not saltwater even though many people think that it is. So I cant catch wild marine animals. But would if i could.
I was in florida in feb of 07' and i found a huge conch that had a orange body, and he had a little porcelin crab on him. I so wanted to take the crab home, but...yeah.
A good friend of mine pulled a bunch of Mexican turbos out of the ocean in Rocky Point Mexico....they have done tremendously well and have grown HUGE in just under a year. He has about 150 gallons (networked smaller tanks) with hundreds of pounds of live rock and they thrive.
please see your other post in the classified section.
PLEASE do not send them back to the ocean. it's too late. the responsible thing is to either keep them in your tank or dry them out and use their shells.
Originally Posted by nybyrne
I thought about that. Should I really be worried? You ever put something in straight from the ocean in your tank?
Some people have kept a "Bay Tank". Anything they found at the beach would go in there. But, I wouldn't even put all the amphipods I found in my display tank. They had their own tank.