Baby seahorse being eaten?

[cabin]

This morning the reidi seahorse gave birth and I saw one of the babies caught by a small snail, struggling to get free. Since the snail was right on the glass, I was able to get a picture. This snail is only about 5mm long. Not sure what kind it is, I have quite a lot of them in this tank--came in on live rock and multiplied. I had assumed they just ate algae until now, but it sure seems to have a large meal in mind with this seahorse. Unfortunately I had to go to work and don't know how this saga turned out.

 

[bunsenburner]

A very great picture

 

[spotfin]

Nice picture. I bet it was bad luck on the seahorse's part rather than the snail actively hunting down the seahorse. Wonder if the snail actually ate it?

 

[Hedonist]

SCREW the nice shot... that sucks......

did you try posting this elswhere????

I say DITCH the snails!!!!!!

dg

 

[bunsenburner]

I agree with Jason that it was likely bad luck on the seahorse part. So many die in the first few days that it is likely that it is simply savanging.

 

[cabin]

Yeah, I've never had even one live past the first day. I'm not willing to do all work, at this point, for trying to raise them! In fact, once the new tank is up, I'll probably sell the seahorses and take that tank down. I'm trying to get to a lower level of work or I'm going to burn out....
Wynne

 

[SuperNerd]

I would also like to know what type of snail that is. Got a top view of it?
How long did it take you to get the camera, set it up, and take the shot?

 

[cabin]

It looks like this is a peppermint snail, based on the snail pictures on Melev's Reef. Took about 2 minutes at most to get the shot from the moment I saw the seahorse struggling. The tricky part is getting the camera to focus ON the glass, not thru it into the tank beyond. I do this by holding the button halfway down while the camera is looking at something nearby that is the right distance (I used the edge of the glass cleaning magnet), then hold that setting and swing the camera over to the object of interest and pray. I took 4 shots, only one was in focus.

 

[SuperNerd]

Peppermint snail?? Are you sure? I didn't think they were carniverous.

 

[jessiesgrrl]

Looks a bit like a stomatid snail, but not sure...?!?

Poor little seahorse... I hope it was just scavaging, but I had what I thought was a large Mexican snail once that turned out to be a clam eating whelk... Heck of a way to find out!!


Laurie

 

[SuperNerd]

Doesn't look like a stomatella to me. Top pic of the shell may be helpful.

 

[reefrancher]

Regardless of whatever kind of snail it is. Your best bet is to net all of the fry out of your display tank and into a seperate system for raising them if you're going to do it.

I know there is a forum here on RC for seahorses and help but you may want to check out seahorse.org and post in the 'emergency' forum for fast expert help.

HTH,
Steve

 

[cabin]

Peppermint? snail picture

Peppermint? snail picture

I was hoping to avoid doing the picture cause it is so much work, but here it is, anyone who wants to try identification, have at it. Size of the shell is about 5-7mm. The green on the left is a blade of seagrass, to give you a sense of scale...

 

[jessiesgrrl]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php

Pic of the stomatella almost at the end of the article. Also includes other snails for reference. Can't guarantee that is what it is obviously, but if it isn't, I'm all out of guesses.


Laurie