Limpets

[Kevin64]

I have about a bazillion limpets in my tank I noticed last night. Are these something to worry about and get out of the tank? I don't see any ill affects with them being in there. At least no damage to any of my corals as of yet. They come out at night during lights off and are gone hiding by the time the lights come on. From what research I've done, some are good and some are bad but I can't tell which is the bad guys. If I had to remove them, I'd be at it for quite a while. Days in fact.

Kevin

 

[xroads]

What is a limpet?

 

[Kevin64]

This is what I found just now so maybe they aren't a bad thing. I just have crap load of them.

The limpet is a relative of a snail. It has a one-piece shell that is like a pointy hat. A limpet has one big foot and a strong suction cup. Limpets eat only at night because then they are much safer moving around. Limpets eat algae off rocks using their radula. Limpets always go back to the same place after eating. Sometimes they use the same spot for their whole life. Limpets fit back into their place in the rock perfectly. Limpets can find their way back to their rock home. They leave a trail of mucus, (just like snails) behind them, which chemically "stores" their direction of travel. They use sensitive chemoreceptors to find their way back "reading" the trail. Limpets don't even have any eyes.
Young limpets live at lower levels of the tidepools. Older limpets live at higher levels of the tidepool.
Limpets have separate sexes. They shoot their eggs or sperms into the open water.

 

[tibbs2]

I have limpets too. In my tank, they are harmless.

 

[Atticus]

I have never had a problem with them. I have had brown, black, and yellow shelled limpets. You will commonly find them on the aquacultured florida live rock.