big snail confussion

[redchick2]

I had a major algae bloom, so I bought a major snail. At the LFS they said it was a "coraline snail". Since it is covered in coraline, I figure that is a VERY generic name. I have attached a pic of it. My turbo has a cone shaped shell, but the big guy has a rounded spiraled shell. It is about 4 inches from foot to peak of shell. I would love to know what it actually is.

 

[pat8you]

not great at the whole identification thing but this would be my guess.

Saltwater Aquarium Snails for Marine Aquariums: Turbo Snail

 

[redchick2]

See that one looks like hime, but it says max size is around two inches. The one I have is almost the size of my fist.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Never heard of a "coraline snail", but yeah... there IS coralline on it!

Agree with pat8you... turbo snail. They definitely get bigger than two inches - that's why they're normally passed by for reef tank. They're just big bulldozers, but they DO make quick work of certain types of algae.

I would guess that your cone-shaped "turbo" isn't really a turbo. Probably an astrea.

 

[Ziggy953]

I agree with Pat and Kurt.

Some LFSs will call the larger Astrea snails (cone shaped) turbos, but they are astrea.

 

[redchick2]

That makes sense. "Coraline" snail just didn't ring true, but I was confussed by the astrea. Thought it was the turbo. Thanks for the input.

 

[melosu58]

I agree also turbo it is.

 

[jbowles]

It looks like the ones i just bought. I got 4 Mexican turbo's and they are all covered in coraline. Mine are not that big but i hear they can grow quickly and get pretty big.