How can you tell is you have a Whelk

[diverjack]

I picked up some snails in Florida. Jen warned me about getting Whelks so now a little freaked out. How can I tell a Whelk from a reef safe snail ?

These look like sand sifters but stay on the rock and glass munching alge.

So far no notice of problem, but don't want to take chances. Today there was a bunch clumped together which I understand could be breeding.

 

[rbredding]

I think that welks primarily have a long tentacle that sticks up at their head.. (definitely doesn't look like a snail)

 

[diverjack]

They look likethis. They do have a trunk like snorkle at the head. However, they haven't shown an aggessive behavior so far. Just stickingto glass and eatting alge.
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[rbredding]

yes, probably a welk..

they can be aggressive.. (generally speaking, I dont know about different species)

 

[jennm]

Use google, search for "whelk" and view images. Not every image on google comes up accurately (sometimes you get pictures of something completely different) but if you find something that matches what you've got - view the page the image is on and see what you come up with.

I can't tell from the photos if they are or not but there are many different varieties.

Jenn