ID the Moster (I was told to ask Leslie)

[mystrybird]

Hi! I posted in General and was told to ask over here as well. It was said that Leslie could help with a positive ID?
This Chiton Hitched in on some live rock I purchased about 2 weeks ago. I have never seen one like this before! It is around 4 inches in length.
Also wonder it it might aggrivate any of my corals. I am not as worried that it will eat them, more that it will Bulldoze them.. This guy moves!
Thanks for any help!!

 

[J. Montgomery]

Wow, thats a good picture. I have one, but taking a picture of it has been difficult since its extremely light sensitive.

You're right that it is a type of Chiton. I don't recall the name, but I think it translates into something like "shell-less chiton". I've had one for over a year and it doesn't seem to bother anything. It just comes out at night and grazes over the LR.

 

[mystrybird]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10706398#post10706398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J. Montgomery
Wow, thats a good picture. I have one, but taking a picture of it has been difficult since its extremely light sensitive.

You're right that it is a type of Chiton. I don't recall the name, but I think it translates into something like "shell-less chiton". I've had one for over a year and it doesn't seem to bother anything. It just comes out at night and grazes over the LR.

Hello, Thanks for the reply. It was dumb luck that I got the picture at all. I grabbed my camera, (dead battery) and ran for one of my childrens. No time to change the settings other than to macro.
It also happened to be on a rock that was too solid to hide in and was running for it's usual one. I just kept flipping the rock around until I was able to get some pictures.
(really stinks that I had spent 2 hrs the night before arranging that side of the tank to include the new rock!) LOL
I doubt I will see it again for quite some time! It was annoyed.

Thanks to the sight being down yesterday, I was able to search a little harder for an ID. I came up with a picture on a Chiton site that is really close. "Cryptoplax"

Thanks for letting me know yours does not bother anything. I now it wont eat anything, but was worried just the size would push the zoa's around.

 

[Ranzan]

wow thats pretty nice looking i want a hitcher like that best thing i got was a demonic hermit crab does it completely strip the rock of coraline?

 

[mystrybird]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10713602#post10713602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ranzan
wow thats pretty nice looking i want a hitcher like that best thing i got was a demonic hermit crab

does it completely strip the rock of coraline?

Gosh! I hope it is not a coraline eater!
I assumed they are all soft green algae eaters??

If you are seeing and refering to the stripped areas of rock in my picture. That would be from an urchin that has done his duty in my most recent tank. Now that his job is done, he will be moved.

Do I dare tell my LFS store about my find? What do you think they would trade it for?

 

[LeslieH]

Cryptoplax = hidden plate, referring to the 8 small shell plates that are mostly hidden by the mantle. For the most part chitons are herbivores and micrograzers, using their rasp-like teeth to eat small algae & bacterial film off rocks. One of the drawbacks of chitons is that they may graze corallines. Another is that supposedly they can damage acrylic if they graze on algae living on it.

 

[mystrybird]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10714140#post10714140 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeslieH
Cryptoplax = hidden plate, referring to the 8 small shell plates that are mostly hidden by the mantle. For the most part chitons are herbivores and micrograzers, using their rasp-like teeth to eat small algae & bacterial film off rocks. One of the drawbacks of chitons is that they may graze corallines. Another is that supposedly they can damage acrylic if they graze on algae living on it.

I Do Not have an acrylic tank. Should I remove this Chiton?
Maybe I should pull it out and Flush it.
Thank you

 

[LeslieH]

Since they're generally harmless & even beneficial keep it. Just watch it & if you see it eating corallines or knocking over things take it back to your LFS or give it to another reefer. There's no need to kill it as many people would appreciate having one.

 

[mystrybird]

Little update

Little update

I am thinking that this Chiton is not benign at all!

Green Star's: GONE!!!

Zoo's: Cranky and pushed around.
LPS: angry and stressed.
Coraline: looks suspicious!
Softies:?? All of the above!

Every morning I can clearly see the path of destruction.

I have tried to get this Chiton to vacate his abode and have failed!

( Hyper, Hypo, Fresh Dip.. ) When I am lucky enough to locate the current rock of choice.

Unless I break every single rock in my tank into 2" pieces, this pain in the A** will not be relocated in the near future.

Any advice??

 

[graveyardworm]

I would suspect something else to blame. I cant see one little chiton managing to bother everything. The grazing of the coraline may actually help to spread it, and encourage it's growth.

 

[mystrybird]

What else do you think could be to blame?
I no longer have any urchins in this tank. I relocated them to another of my tanks.
((before things dissapeared))
I have no crabs in this tank.
The only snails I have left at the moment are:
1 Astrea, 1 Mexican turbo, (turbo was also added recently, after the green star's dissapeared)) 2 small bumble bee's (that I have had for 5yrs and moved from tank to tank) and a few nassarius. I might have 1 "bad" snail, but the last time I saw it, (a month ago) is was only a few cm long. not big enough to cause this much destruction)
I know I have at least 1 peanut worm that hitch hiked in the same rocks as the Chiton.
Only fish are: 2 clowns, 1 porcupine puffer and 1 blenny.
If it is not the Chiton (which is not that small by the way, 4-5 inches)
What else could it be? I am not worried about the coraline much. The amount it might consume is very small compared to a pencil urchin.
But who ate my Green Stars??

Thanks!

 

[graveyardworm]

If everything is irritated I would suspect possibly something to do with water quality, but sounds like you've been in the hobby for some time and probably have a pretty good handle on that. So I really cant help much with what the cause could be other than perhaps you're right.

 

[mystrybird]

Not the water, but I wish it was! That would be an easy fix.
I have been in the hobby for a long time, first set up was almost 20yrs ago. Interesting thing about this hobby, there is always something new to learn! Things have advanced quick in the last few years!

Going to start a new thread about this Chiton when I get a chance. (If it is not the culprit, I have no idea what is!) If I have missed something I would be suprised. I spend more time taking care of and looking at my tanks with magnifying glass and eye peice, the hubby acts like my tanks are an affair with another man. LOL

New thread will be a request to rehome the Chiton. (If I can catch it out and about) FREE shipping, but only if one is willing to compensate with a few frags. I will send it with a small chunk of rock and pay shipping both ways if the trade is right.

Do you think that would be acceptible to this board?
Thanks!

 

[graveyardworm]

You could try it but it might get moved to Selling/Trading forums. You could always start two threads. One here about the chiton, and one in the Selling forums, and then link that thread in the one here.

If you are involved with a local club or knew of a local club you could probably post it in their forum, and find someone local to take it.