Limpets, friend or foe

[toddmau5]

I always thought these guys were a part of my c.u.c, they hitch hiked in on the rock, but now I think I know why some of my corals get angry for a few days. The birds nest still hasn't opened after 2 days

 

[ChadRaay86]

Thats a really big limpet if that is what it is. Mine are tiny like the size of a babies fingernail and I haven't seen them do anything ever. Also, that birdsnest looks like its dead on the bottom. Maybe the limpet is cleaning up the dead stuff?

 

[ChadRaay86]

Take a look at this article from reefkeeping magazine. It looks like keyhole and slit limpets can do damage to softies, but no evidence of hard coral interference. Maybe they're really really hungry...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I recently got rid of one in my tank. I swear it but through a snail shell and killed the thing. From the research I did, there are many varieties of limpets. Sometimes it is hard to tell what it is so "when in doubt, take it out". It's probably much safer this way.

 

[rogergolf66]

They definitely eat at some of my sps so I removed them all

 

[toddmau5]

Pretty sure it's a key home, thing is insanely hard to pry off of anything, the birds nest was super puffy and happy before the limpet climbed on. I haven't had anything die off from one yet just close up for a few days and come back, like they've been super slimmed

 

[toddmau5]

Wow, so sounds like their tongue is pretty much a grinder and the poor birdsnest was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I found one of the two and threw him in the sump, he can eat all the coraline he says down there

 

[downdeep]

Three hours ago I would have said that there is no way the limpets are doing damage. However I have a pink birds nest that looks exactly like yours. Tonight I just witnessed a limpet about 3/4" long EATING my red planet frag.

 

[toddmau5]

I always just assumed they had some crazy some that took awhile to wash off. I've never seen any permanent damage, the polyps are slowly comming back out on the birdsnest

 

[anbosu]

I have never had an issue with them eating coral, but I have heard that.

They do have an amazing grip, they are almost impossible to remove from a smooth surface without something to pry them up with.

 

[shibby1]

I've got a few in my tanks. Couple that are almost a inch in length. Never seen any of them attacking or even cruising over top of the corals.

 

[toddmau5]

Poor birdsnest took a hell of a beating, not sure the base is going to come back from this one

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Is the only way to get rid of them by manually taking them out whenever you see them?

 

[Robandoban]

I had 2 limpets in my 29 gallon cube and I caught it eating my birdsnest as well. I them proceeded to remove them from the tank.