Dick,
Not sure whether the hybrids eat snails, but I believe as a fish taxidermist I have skinned some of the hybrids out and they have the crusher teeth of the redears (shellcrackers).
I know regular bluegills will eat snails too as I have watched them do so in my pond. However, they do not have the crusher teeth that the shellcrackers have.
From all the literature I have read redears (shellcrackers) typically aren't interested in feed. However, I've read this about pumpkinseeds (Lepomis gibbosus) too, but know a fish farmer in Minnesota that has pumkinseeds feeding on feed.
