i just found out the hard way that big Nassarius Snails can be carnivores after they attacked my little molly miller blenny and ate him, plus an other turbo snail...
just beware of the great sand bed cleaner Nassarius Snails... little ones are ok, but the others can mean trouble.
Yeah I know about Whelks and the different types of snails...but.... a nassarius is a nassarius. Heed.
Nassarius are Whelks ... ask a marine biologist. They carry a strong neuro-toxin which can increase to be lethal to humans who may be silly enough to eat them. They project this toxin via thread-like feelers, and they can be quite a way from the prey when they inject it.
They also hunt in packs and ambush the unsuspecting whatever . Yes they are cannibalistic as well.
Wise man says believe what you see. One of my clowns was pulled half way into this nightmare creatures "home" when I eventually cottoned on to where my expensive fish had gone.
The "snails" disappear with them into the sub-strate and no trace is found, as they are another menace that feed by dissolving the the fish, bones and all.
They can react instantly food is introduced into the tank, heaven knows how, and slow as a snail does NOT apply to these jokers. They can move as if " turbo-charged" pardon the pun, over any kind of surface.
Some time ago I decided that snails are nothing but trouble .... for me at least. I got these wretched things with other stuff when I was foolish enough to buy a complete second-hand set up. I really should know better at my age.
The cost of the experience to me ? £ 250.00
I've gone back to freshwater tropicals. Marines are a rich man's domain ..... comparatively.
I'm a pensioner, and I'm poorer by at least double what the fish have cost me.