Can anyone ID this?

[ktnjer]

Found this slug like creature crawling around on the rocks. It has a hard like shell on its back but it's not any regular shell for a snail or such...

 

[mike68]

i have forgot the name of those but from what i understand they are common in new tanks. i used to have a bunch of them, but they have all died now.

 

[J. Montgomery]

stomatella snail: a common and beneficial hitchhiker. I used to have hoards of them until my peppermint shrimp developed a taste for them :lol:

 

[ktnjer]

I was hoping it wouldn't be much of a muncher...

Thanks josh!

 

[Virginia Reef]

Nah, nice snail addition. They seem to be able to breed successfully in reef tanks. I've had them come and go. Never related thier decline to peppermint shrimp but that might be the case for me.

 

[J. Montgomery]

My peppermint is pretty big. I actually saw him pull stomatellas off the rocks and eat them. I'm not sure if its a normal behavior.

 

[jasontammy]

Hello everyone, we are from Alabama and we had the same ? on these snails. We bought a piece of coral and low and behold here were 2 weird snails. I never was able to identify them till now so thanks. You all seem to have a good forum here. If ever in Alabama look us up. Thanks Jason.

 

[Virginia Reef]

Not planning to be in Alabama anytime soon but I will be in Atlanta next Labor Day weekend to see my Hokies try to get a piece of the Crimson Tide.

 

[jasontammy]

Good luck with that, we have been pretty tough to beat.

 

[J. Montgomery]

While in Atlanta, you gotta check out the Georgia Aquarium. It's only a block from the GA Dome.

I'm in Alabama right now, posting from Birmingham. I was in Montgomery earlier in the week with my family. We'll be in Talladega tomorrow

 

[jasontammy]

I'll be driving through Talladega tomorrow on my way home. Hey since your in B-Ham could you swing by and feed my fish!lol You are about 40 miles from where I live. Drive crefull. You know all my family in that area are Montgomery's.Jason

 

[J. Montgomery]

Contrary to popular misconception, my real name is not Josh Montgomery :lol:

I didn't want to post with my real name, so I came up with an alias. My last name begins with the letter M, and I'm from Montgomery . . . the rest is history. Its kind of like my blues musician name.

 

[Virginia Reef]

You better hope I don't go to the Georgia aquarium. I was there 2 years ago and went to the aquarium. Couple weeks later the 4 whale sharks were reduced to 3 and then to 2. Still haven't heard the cause but it was quite disturbing right after seeing those 4 beautiful animals swim over and around me.

 

[Der ABT]

huh, i thought those things where called Chilots or something similar to that.

I have a ton in my tank, much cheaper then buying snails. though they always seem to be on the bottom of my frag plugs.

 

[SS7]

They slightly resemble chitons, but are much larger overall (relative to our normal chiton hitchikers) and have more of a snail appearance. They appear as snails that have outgrown their shell. Great critters that can get places most snails can't. They also reproduce well in aquaria, but not at a nuisance rate.

SS

 

[ktnjer]

I actually saw this thing on top of my biggest chunk of live rock yesterday, spitting in the air...almost looked like bubbles...then descended back into the rock. Reproducing maybe?

 

[J. Montgomery]

Yep, releasing gametes. They reproduce in the tank.