Caribbean Nassarius Snail care guide
Caribbean Nassarius Snail (Nassarius vibex) — minimum tank 40 L, temperature 24-26 °C, pH 8.1-8.4.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Caribbean Nassarius Snail (Nassarius vibex) is a marine nassa snail of the family Nassariidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as a beginner-level species. Excellent sand-bed cleaner that detects food via long siphon and emerges from sand to feed. Reef-safe scavenger that turns substrate over.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nassariidae
- Genus: Nassarius
- Scientific name: Nassarius vibex
- Common synonyms: Dog Whelk, Nassarius Snail
Habitat
Nassarius nassa snails (family Nassariidae) are marine scavenging gastropods of sandy and muddy coastal bottoms worldwide. They burrow in the substrate and emerge rapidly in response to food, extending a long siphon to detect carrion. In the Aquairi knowledge base this species is recorded from Caribbean, Western Atlantic.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (10.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 1-2 cm
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- KH: 8-12 °dKH
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Lifespan: 1-3 years
Diet
The species is a scavenger, locating carrion and organic particles around the substrate and burrow; in aquaria it readily takes sinking pellets and meaty frozen foods and helps clear uneaten food from the sand bed.
Compatibility
The Aquairi knowledge base lists this species as peaceful. Suitable tank mates include Reef fish, Inverts. It should be kept away from Triggerfish, Pufferfish.
Breeding
Breeding requires an extended planktonic larval stage in open water before the young settle, which makes captive reproduction very difficult and rarely accomplished in home aquaria. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-collected.
Caribbean Nassarius Snail (Nassarius vibex): Breeding Notes
Overview
Nassarius vibex is a small scavenging mud snail of the family Nassariidae, native to the Caribbean and western Atlantic. Like other Nassarius, it is a very active scavenger that burrows into sand and waits with only its long siphon protruding until it detects nearby food, then emerges to feed.
Sexing
Sexes are separate but cannot be told apart externally without dissection. In laboratory studies of Nassarius, males mature from about 11.5 mm and females from about 15 mm shell length.
Spawning & Eggs/Larvae
Nassarius snails attach benthic egg capsules to hard surfaces such as rock or glass; each capsule holds on the order of 100 or more embryos. In studied Nassarius, encapsulated development lasts about 9–15 days, after which free-swimming planktonic veligers emerge and require roughly 1–2 months to complete metamorphosis and settlement.
Common Challenges
The long planktonic phase means larvae are lost to filtration, predation and skimming in closed systems, so reproduction is not practical for hobbyists.