Killer nassarious?

[huggett]

At first I noticed a nassarious snail that seemed too be getting to "friendly" with a scarlet reef hermit. I was concerned for the snail, because the scarlet was pinching at him. I separated them, and not long after noticed the snail back over by the crab. This time the crab did not seem to be pinching at him. I got busy doing other things, and the next time I looked at the tank There was a swarm of nassarious snails all over the scarlet. I was to late to do anything, they had pulled him out of his shell and were eating him! I was concerned that the crab would hurt/kill the snail, not the other way around! I know he was alive, and well before the snails got to him. I also know the nassarious are carnivores/ detrivores, but I can't believe these little (3/8") snails would hunt, swarm, and kill like this! Is this normal? Are they doing this because they can't find anything to eat? I do feed very lightly, but I only have 10 of these snails in a 55. Thanks

 

[neowind]

Wow awsome story now I am scared I haven't seen my Scarlett crab in a few days and I got 10 Nass also. That sux if they are a tribe of killer snails!!

 

[huggett]

The scarlet hermit was in a shell that seemed to me to be too big for him, he seemed to have trouble carrying it. Could this have limited his movement, and left him easy prey, maybe? I just don't want them to do this to any more scarlets! P.S. I do have extra shells in the tank for the hermits, if he wasn't happy in the shell he could have changed.

 

[huggett]

No, I am positive he was in the shell, alive, and well! I saw him moving and pinching at the first snail. It was definitly not a molt. Isn't this strange?

 

[bang guy]

This is odd for a creature that can't eat flesh until it starts to decompose.
Can you post a pic of these snails.

 

[huggett]

I will try, if I can get one up in the front of the tank. But I am sure they are nassarious. They are about 3/8", with tubes they seem to "sniff" around with, they bury themselves in the substrate with only the tube sticking out. Will work on pic now. Thanks for replies!

 

[huggett]

sorry, I can't get a decent pic. Noone would be able to tell if they are nassarious, or not by the pics. I have a 3.1 MP kodak, but haven't learned how to use it for good tank pics yet.

 

[huggett]

Their shell colors vary, some are light, some are darker. Some have light "tubes", some have dark "tubes"

 

[reefsoe]

Africanized Killer Snails.... dont put your hand in the tank!
You really must post a pic its very hard to tell nassarius apart without one. Some are not detrivores either.

 

[mmslue79]

That is a freaky story, I have never head of Nass's doing such odd things. A picture like bang recommended would be awesome!

 

[yellowtail]

:hilarious
it was a nass. mass

 

[mobikobeyob]

Probably a small Preditory whelk doing the killing, and nassarious cleaning up the mess.
Mobi