Nassarius vs. Predators; Nassarius snail ID? Pseudochromid comp. - 7/31/07
Hello Crew!
<Hi David!>
Thanks in advance for addressing this question this evening.
<Happy to!>
I visited my LFS today and observed a tank full of Nassarius spp. snails being sold as 'Cinnamon Roll Nassarius,'<?> presumably due to their size and coloration. These were quite colorful and at least an inch in diameter, maybe 1 ¼ inch (they do somewhat resemble a cinnamon roll so what's not to like?).
<Indeed, who doesn’t love a good cinnamon roll? Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of these snails, nor seen any Nassarius with that shape/size. Snails in the genus Nassarius, generally look like this: http://www.seashell-collector.com/beginners/NASSARIIDAE.jpg>
I am familiar with the Nassarius as a reef safe invertebrate that is used primarily as a scavenger of detritus, leftover food bits, and such, and a sand bed stirrer/sifter. <Yep, love those Nassarius vibex!> I have kept Turbo, and Astrea, snails with success but never the Nassarius. <They make a nice addition to the right tank>.
I have heard/read that natural predators of the Nassarius snails may be hermit crabs and, of course, large snail eating fishes like some triggers. <Yes> In this respect, these snails would be safe in my tank as I do not maintain hermit crabs or triggers. <Good> However, I have one emerald crab (Mithrax sculptus) that I have housed in this 46 gal. FOWLR tank for many years with no apparent problems.
<Good to hear. I’ve had mixed luck with these guys. Hopefully, yours will keep his little green claws to himself and away from any future snails you acquire! Keeping him well fed will help.>
My other livestock consists of a smaller One-spot Rabbitfish, a Tomato Clown, an Azure Damsel, and a Yellow Dottyback. There are currently no other inverts. I would like to acquire 3 or 4 of these large Nassarius snails for this tank, beginning with a very low stocking ratio in order to determine their suitability in the system as a whole and to ensure they do not rapidly deplete their food supply. <Good thinking when it comes to stocking> The sand bed is entirely appropriate for this species - deep sugar sand bed of at least 3".
<I’m concerned that we really don’t know what species this is, therefore, we don't know its needs.>
My question is, do you see the Emerald crab as a threat to the snails? <It’s possible, crabs are always a risk.> How about the Dottyback? <It’s possible as well.> Are they prone to picking on inverts that are introduced after them, as they are with fishes?
<Yep, they’re quite the little pickers. I’ve heard of them nipping off snail antennae, etc.>
And, do you see any other problems with their inclusion that I may not foresee?
<I’d recommend finding out exactly what type of snail those are before purchasing. It's imperative to know a potential addition's diet, care, how large it gets, compatibility issues, etc, before bringing it home. These two sites are good places to start the ID process: http://www.seashell-collector.com/beginners/family_id.htm
http://shell.kwansei.ac.jp/~shell/pic_book/shape.html>
Thanks again for your valuable insight.
<You’re very welcome and good luck! –Lynn>
David A. Bell

Re: Nassarius snails? Dottyback aggression - 7/31/07
Hello WWM Crew!
<Hello there, David! Lynn here again, ready to talk snails!>
The message is in response specifically to Lynn, who gave initial reply to my question yesterday, but if not available maybe the word could be passed on. Never the less it may be an interesting story and useful to other readers. Thanks.
This is a follow-up concerning the compatibility of Nassarius Snails to my current inhabitant list of a Foxface Rabbitfish (Siganus [Lo] vulpinus), Tomato Clown (Amphiprion frenatus), Azure Damsel (Amblyglyphidodon azurelineatus), Yellow Dottyback (Pseudochromis fuscus), and an Emerald Crab (Mithrax sculptus). The habitat is a 46 gal. bow, FOWLR with about 3-4" of sugar sand and 50 lbs. of live rock with no other inverts at the moment.
I read everything I could find on WWM and several other sources concerning the Nassarius genus and possible predators of these snails. As I stated yesterday, hermits and large snail-eating fishes, like Triggers, were the only commonly mentioned suspects cited as potential problems. My only concerns at this point then were the Emerald Crab and the Dottyback; however, the sources said that Dottybacks may not be trusted with small inverts. Given their size, I went ahead and purchased 3 of these snails this morning (of which there are issues concerning their actual taxonomic placement in the genus, by the way, as these are large for Nassarius, about the size of a silver dollar, being sold under the common name of a Cinnamon Roll Nassarius - perhaps Tongan in origin?
<Hmmm, I’ve seen something called a “Super Tongan” Nassarius (Nassarius distortus) offered online. They get up to about an inch, but they don’t look remotely like a cinnamon roll! LOL When I think of a cinnamon roll, I think of something short/round/squat (heee, like I would look if I ate too many!). I’ve never seen a pointed/cone-shaped one but hey, it could happen!>
They weren't around long enough to take a picture. I'll work on sharing that the first chance I get. <Please do, that would be super. By the way, I’ve got another link for you to explore (see the purple “Thumbnails” link on the right): http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/Family_NASSARIIDAE_NASSARIINAE.html >
Well, I need not have worried about the Emerald Crab as he never got the chance to get close to the snails. The Dottyback went absolutely berserk! He attempted to nip at the snail's flesh until they retreated within their shells and then he continually rammed them with his head.<Yep, that’s a Dottyback for you.> In the meantime they were able to burrow into the sand, but even this did not deter the Dottyback as he hovered over the sandbed in an antagonistic manner, ready to pounce upon their return. <They’re nothing if not persistent, huh?> The snails were in the tank no longer than a couple of minutes before I removed them to their transfer bag, seeing no hope in the relationship "righting" itself. <Agreed> However....enter the Tomato Clown. Despite the Dottyback's severe aggressive tendencies - having already killed a Falco's Hawkfish - <Yikes!> the Tomato Clown, a five-year resident, is undisputed Tank Boss. <You’ve just got to love that about a Tomato clown. It takes a lot to intimidate one!> During this aggressive display, the Clown eagerly threw himself between the Dottyback and the snails, practically shoving the Dottyback back into the rockwork. This was indeed interesting to watch! - a Clownfish seemingly protecting the new kids by trying to keep this terror of a fish at bay. <Interesting>
Well, the story ended well as I took the snails back to the LFS where they are on hold for me to pick back up pending some "environmental modifications." <Ideally, you’d quarantine those snails before putting them in the tank.> In fact, the Store Owner has also agreed to accept the Dottyback in swap for someone less volatile. <Yay!> This particular killer needs to be placed with Triggers, large Angels, and the like. He's not quite big enough for me to eat. <Heee!> The moral to this story is a simple one....what you hear and read about Pseudochromis spp. Is not only most likely true, they may negatively EXCEED expectations. At this point, I would have no idea how aggressive or defensively capable another animal must be in order to be introduced with this fish in residence.
Regards, from
David A. Bell
<Thank you for sharing this with us! -Lynn>

Re: Nassarius snails? Dottyback aggression – 7/31/07
Hello Lynn. (No need to publish)
<Hi David!>
I just wanted to say "thanks" for the Nassarius picture, <You're very welcome> and the answer is definitely "yes," the so-called Nassarius that I described in yesterday's post match the picture....but the ones I found are large, around 1 1/4 ".
<Yikes, that’s huge compared to the typical Nassarius snails I usually see! I’ll be looking forward to seeing some photos of these guys. If it’s at all possible, please try to get a shot from the top, or side, as well as one from underneath (so you can see the aperture/opening). That last view can make all the difference in the world when it comes to identifying. Until then, take care! - Lynn>
David Bell

Different Stomatella?  7/26/07
<Hello Elaine, Mich here.>
Sorry about the spelling but I asked a question quite a while ago regarding a slug looking creature I had found in my tank. I was told to enjoy him as it was a Stomatella. Since the tank has been running without fish for about 6 months as it was to be used for a small fish only tank but I never got round to getting fish in. I have still been doing regular water changes and the life in there is full.
<Very good!>
My concern is the Stomatella snails have reproduced to around 50 + but although they were a stone colour there are now also 50+ others which are black in colour and have 1 single white spot off set on there back slightly to the left.
<The color shouldn't matter, if, these are indeed Stomatella snails.>
Are these safe?
<Should be.>
If I put fish in will they eat them?
<Depends what fish you put in. You should research any livestock you are considering before purchasing it.>
My hubby is wanting to buy a lion fish to put in the tank.
<OK, will make it difficult to add many other fish as they tend to eat anything that is smaller than they are! I presume you know the spines are venomous. More here and the many related links in blue:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lions&rels.htm >
I have not seen the things doing anything apart from eat the algae on the glass but apart from live rock there are no corals in there.
<OK.>
Can you please confirm these new coloured Stomatella things are also safe and if so are they safe in a reef tank as I would like to place some of the live rock from there into my reefs sump.
<Please see images of Stomatella here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailidfaq6.htm
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0305/images/stomatella.jpg
If this is what you have in your tank, you should be fine.>
Thanks for your help,
<Welcome! Happy reading!>
Elaine Hilton
North Wales UK
<Michelle Lemech who used to live in North Wales, Pennsylvania!>
ps Sorry I tried to get a photo but they would not turn out well enough to see but they are identical to the others apart from the colour.
<OK.
ps Please in the future use proper capitalization i.e. "I not i". More reasons why here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/QueryCorrsRefPg.htm >