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I
had the chance to observe many Conus regius Gmelin, 1791
& Conus dominicanus Hwass, 1792 in my aquarium and manage
to find out what this shells feed on. Conus regius and Conus
dominicanus (Grenadines Islands) are both worm killers. They
both feed on the carribean "fire worm" Hermodice carunculata
(picture below). The worms have usually three different colors :
gree, orange or red. This could partially
explain the many variations in color of Conus regius.

I kept in my small aquarium Conus regius, Conus regius
f. citrinus and one specimen of Conus dominicanus
I brang back from Union Island down in the Grenadines (read
the entire article here).
They
all have same strategy. They are during day time much less active
than during night time but they can hunt, catch and feed during
day time. Usually the shells are partially burrowed or just laying
in the sand.
They have their syphon retracted and seems to rest. When you introduce
the worms, as soon as they enter in the water (by the surface),
the syphon of the cone shells start extending and moving around
like if it was "smelling", "feeling" the water
around it. This does not happen when you introduce anything else
in the tank.
This first comment may clearly show that syhon
has sort of chemical receptors that feel very early the presence
of a worm in his hunting perimeter.
Then the shell start to extend his foot and then you can see the
entire animal. But it does not move. The syphon is very active.
Fire worm is a very active species wich may turn around the aquarium
for some minutes before finding a hiding place. They never care
about the shells and passed by or crossed them !!
The shells most of the time waited that the worm arrive close to
them before extending their spearing appendice. And fastly they
hit the worms. It is invisible. You just see the red spearing appendice
close to the worm and then you feel the shot as the worm has a fast
movement/ondulation from the part which was shot.
The worm usually escape but neevr stops very far though. Sometimes
the shell would hit it a second time.
After what the Cone shell start extending his proboscis and swallow
the stun worm by one side. then the digestion begins and takes about
one hour. Sometimes they would finish heir meel and sometimes they
would
let some parts of the worms.
I
could observe several shells trying to eat the same worm. But I
never noticed a Conus feeding on a dead worm or a part of
a dead worm. They really need to feed on live worms.
Here
are some pictures showing how they hunt, stun and feed :
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