Crown Conch Snail- Predator Snail

These are guys are snail predators – seeking prey slow enough for them to catch. Common targets include the bivalves such as oysters and clams, but they are known to seek out other snails – like whelks.  Crown conchs are known to feed on dead organisms they encounter and may be cannibalistic.  As with all creatures, they have their predators as well.  The large thick shell protects them from most but other snails, such as whelks and murex, are known predators of the crown conch.

Crown conchs are subtropical species and have a low tolerance for cold water. They are common in the panhandle and may expand further north along the Atlantic coast if warming trends continue.  They have a higher tolerance for changes in salinity and can tolerate salinity as low as 8 ppt.