nassarius vs maxima

Discussion in 'Clams' started by Billme, Nov 15, 2013.

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  1. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Last night I found a nassarius inside my clam. The clam doesn't look good. It seems unable to close and the mantle is retracted. Needless to say, I got the snail out of there and have three more to locate. The snail was at the bottom of the clam near the hinge and looks severely damaged. Any hope for this fella? Thanks in advance.
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Unfortunately the clam was probably dying already and the snail was eating dead and decaying tissue.
     
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  4. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    The nassarius was only there because it smells decay. In which case, it's too late to do much for the clam I'm afraid.

    Some people would toss the clam at this point, before it has a chance to really decay in your tank.
     
  5. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Thanks for the replies. The clam was in fine shape before the attack. This happened once before when I first got Clam. A nassarius was on him the first day and did a little damage to the mantle. I got rid of him and the wound was about healed. I came to the conclusion that it was a whelk not a nassarius. Since then, I went without snails. I was recently told that a nassarius would be safe to add. I got the snail from a reliable LFS thinking it would be a nassarius and not a whelk. Just read an article that said suppliers are selling what they think are nassarius but are whelks. Apparently, whelks are meat eaters.
     
  6. Jlobes

    Jlobes Coral Banded Shrimp

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    whelks=bad news and dead clams. they are known clam eaters and general predators. Had a similar experience, "tongan nassarius" from an LFS, actually a whelk and ate my prize clam!
     
  7. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Yeah, if it's a whelk, then what I said prior is invalid.
     
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  9. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    how does one tell the difference?
     
  10. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Apparently it's difficult to tell the difference between a nassarius and whelk. One article I read said they are cheaper than a true nassarius. So the LFS can probably make a better profit. I'll look up and post some articles.
     
  11. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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  12. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Still got the snail? Take an image please.