Limpets - Can you have too many?

[tygger]

One day, I started seeing a couple limpets... a few months later and I see them everywhere. Can you have too many?

I even found some on the inside neck and collection cup of my skimmer.

 

[fishyvet]

They are algae eaters and I'm sure nutrient supply will be the limiting factor in their multiplication. Count yourself luck! Some people don't have these guys and wish they did. My wrasses do a pretty good job at population control on these little suckers

 

[tygger]

I don't have any predatory fish that will eat these guys... it's not like they're overwhelming, I just noticed that they can be found throughout the tank.

Thx

 

[Satori]

Yeah, limpets are cool.

Nerd alert - did you know that they have traces of iron in their tounge that they use to tell direction, and return to the same spot after grazing?

After hearing that, I had to check it out. I super glued a tiny ribbon to one of the limpets, and tracked it's movement over the next 2 months. It ventured as far as 4 feet away, but always returned! Very cool.

Here is the tracking device:

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9177754#post9177754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSM
Nerd alert - did you know that they have traces of iron in their tounge that they use to tell direction, and return to the same spot after grazing?

Wow, are you serious!?!?:eek2:
Very Cool

 

[dc]

LOL, I have a ton of them in one of my tanks, and none in the rest of them.

 

[SDguy]

OMG, my nerd-dar is going CRAZY :lol:

I remember a reef tank at the first LFS I ever worked at had a horrible etched trail from a limpet type animal in the acrylic. Can anyone confirm/debunk this idea? Attribute it to a different animal?

 

[tygger]

MSM, you're crazy! lol

Actually, that's really interesting Yours seem to be bigger than most of mine. I still see a lot of baby ones that just feel like a mini clump of sand grains.

 

[Satori]

Lol, that was one of the biggest ones in the tank, but still only about 1/8".