Tonga Fighting Conch - Nassarius species - Nassarius Snails

Tonga Fighting Conch - Nassarius species Taxonomy:
Tonga Fighting Conch belongs to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda, Family Nassariidae and Genus Nassarius. Scientific names:
The scientific name of Tonga Fighting Conch is Nassarius species. Other common names:
Tonga Fighting Conch is also commonly known as Tongan Fighting Conch. Origin or natural range:
The Nassarius species originates from Tonga and Indonesia. Size:
Tonga Fighting Conch grows up to a length of around five inches. Color:
The Nassarius species occurs in Cream, Brown, Gray and White colors. Aggression:
Tonga Fighting Conch is non-aggressive towards the marine aquarium invertebrates. Compatibility:
The Nassarius species is reef compatible. Venom status:
Tonga Fighting Conch is non-poisonous in nature. Habit & Habitat:
The Nassarius species is found on the coastal regions in its natural habitat. Hardiness:
Tonga Fighting Conch is quite Hardy. Life expectancy:
The Nassarius species has a life of around fifteen years. Morphology:

• The Cream and White body of Tonga Fighting Conch is spotted with Brown color.
• The foot of the Nassarius species is brown in color, is flat and claw shaped. Tonga Fighting Conch uses its claw for its defense, for locomotion and for balancing itself.
• The shell of the Nassarius species is spiral in shape.
• Growth enabling environment in your marine aquarium:
  Your marine aquarium must meet the following environmental specifications to successfully raise Tonga Fighting Conch in it:
  Aquarium habit & habitat:
• Tank type: To host the Nassarius species, you should have a Reef Type Marine Aquarium.
• Aquarium set-up: Place a thick layer of sand at the bottom of your reef tank, for Tonga Fighting Conch to search its food in.
• Temperature of water: Keep the water temperature in your marine aquarium maintained between seventy-two and seventy-eight degrees Fahrenheit.
• Specific gravity of water: The specific gravity of water of your reef aquarium should be set within the range of 1.023 to 1.025.
• pH of water: The pH value of your tank water should scale between 8.10 and 8.40.
  Feeding & Nutrition:
• Diet: Tonga Fighting Conch is Omnivorous and a Scavenger in its feeding habit.
• Food content: The Nassarius species eats the frozen meaty bits of fish, dried seaweeds, algae such as, Diatoms, Cyanobacteria and Hair Algae and scavenges on detritus.
• Supplements: Add Calcium into the tank water as dietary supplement for the shell growth of Tonga Fighting Conch.
  Benefits:
• Being a Scavenger, Tonga Fighting Conch keeps your marine aquarium free of perishable organic matter.
• The Nassarius species ploughs the sand while searching for its food. The food search process aerates the sand well.
• Tonga Fighting Conch is an algae eater and keeps your marine aquarium free of algal infestation.
• The shell of the Nassarius species is used as a curio, as a Conch trumpet used generally by Hindus and Buddhists and the shell is also utilized to make ornaments.
• Care:
• Tonga Fighting Conch is easy to maintain.
• Nitrates and Copper in any form in your marine aquarium may prove lethal for the Nassarius species.
• Keep the pH of your marine aquarium water maintained between 8.10 and 8.40 else, Tonga Fighting Conch may get pH shock and its shell may get corroded.
• AquaristÍs level:
  The Nassarius species can be handled by all the levels of aquarists, right from the beginners to the experienced ones. Caution:
  Tonga Fighting Conch may dislodge small rocks in your marine aquarium. Therefore, do not keep Tonga Fighting Conch in a small and congested reef tank.