We’ve been caring for our Florida crown conch since 2022.
If you’ve visited the Zoo, you’ve likely met a lot of our more than 800 animal residents. Some animals are easy to spot, but others are often not as easy to see because of their habitat set up, their personalities or their sleep cycles among other things. We wanted to start a “Meet the Animals” section of our blog to introduce you to some of the residents that you may (or may not have) met yet!
Today, we’re diving into an extra spe-shell animal at our Zoo: the Florida crown conch! We currently care for six of these little sea snails, which are native to the Indian River Lagoon and coastal regions throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
Our conchs reside in an aquarium in our Paws On loop, along with tankmates including stingray, local fish species and more.
The first step in understanding how these critters live is understanding their anatomy. Florida crown conchs glide across the sand with a singular, widely shaped foot. The tip of the foot is capped with a darker-colored structure called an operculum, which serves as a barrier to keep predators out. When conchs feel threatened, they quickly retreat into their shell and use their operculum to seal off their bodies from danger.
For conchs, their shell is their one and only home! Conchs have a single shell that their bodies adapt and grow into throughout their entire lives.
The daily care of these animals looks a little different than many other residents at our Zoo, especially since they spend a majority of their time buried in the sand, explained Herps and Aquatics Area Supervisor Jenna Bakhuizen.
“We usually conduct yearly census of them and make note when we do see them,” Jenna said. “For example, yesterday, I saw 5 of the 6 conchs out and about. But because they can dig into the sand, it may be nearly impossible for us to find them unless they are hungry.”
When the conchs do emerge, our keepers check to ensure they have no injuries or abnormalities to their skin or shells.
In terms of diets, conchs are carnivores who munch on organic material like fish pieces that the stingray or bony fish may miss, along with clams and mussels. This doubles as a win for us, too, as this keeps the aquarium tank clean!
Because these mollusks don’t have teeth, they consume their food through a structure called a radula, which breaks down food and moves it toward their esophagus.
Conch shells are also a popular keepsake from a day at the beach, but many people don’t realize that these creatures play a vital role in protecting other organisms within their ecosystem. After conchs pass away, other species can use their shell as a protective space and new home, helping the conchs’ natural habitats thrive.
As stewards of our local marine life, our Zoo advises the public to leave conch shells where they belong. Jenna also reminds us to shuffle our feet while walking through the lagoon or the ocean to avoid stepping on them — not to mention, it could hurt your foot, too! Ouch!
Keep your eyes peeled the next time you visit our Paws On aquarium — you might just spot a conch!
Special thanks to Flammio Financial Group, Stifel-Garvin Wealth Management Group, Artemis IT, and Jim and Darleen Barfield. Their generosity makes our work possible!
Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.