How did this happen?

[Crows Ridge]

About three/four weeks ago I decided to move my 3" Conch shell. It had not moved in over a week. When I turned it over, it let out that "dead snail smell" No doubt about that smell! YUK! There were some Bristle Worms in there too. So I planned on getting more to replace him.

I have something that is moving shells around in my tank. A couple clam shells and the Conch shell. I assume its the female GSM Clown. So I didnt give much thought to it.

This morning, the Conch shell was out front again. It had not moved for at least a week. The eyes and snout of the Conch are out and he is eating like nothing ever happened. ?????

I really enjoy him. He reaches out of his shell almost 1.5" when feeding and is fun to watch. Im glad he is okay, but the whole thing is wierd!

Anyone know more about them and their strange habits?

Thanks, Chris

 

[Krish]

I've never heard about anything like that before Chris...Sorry. I see conchs all the time in the wild here, but never in captivity. I think they are cool, but I've been too afraid to put one in the tank for fear I may wake up one morning and find my tank glass busted(LOL). I love to see tourists reactions to them though when they come to the Bahamas and order conch salad to see the "conch man" chopping up the conch while it's still moving(LOL)

Well, glad to see your conch is ok. Hopefully he won't scare you anymore.

 

[dpaynter]

My fighting conch will disappear for months at a time; or I will just see one eye stalk poking up from the sand. Then I will see it out on the sand every day for weeks. There is food for it all of the time on the sandbed.

I am surprised that one would tolerate bristleworms in its shell though.

 

[NaH2O]

I experience the same as dpaynter. The fighting conch in my nano will go under the sand for weeks....unmoving, as sometimes I can see its shell. Then one day I'll see it out, only to be gone again a few days later.

 

[Crows Ridge]

Mine never goes under the sand. He is almost the size of my fist.