Mystery Creatures

[iaJim]

I have had something hatch in my tank. I have probably 75-100 little white snail like creatures on the glass. They are about the size of a pin head. They don't do a lot of moving, but they do move. They are not limpets, rather, they are a little bit oval, and it appears that they have no way to retract into a shell. I'm thinking that they are beneficial, but what do you think?

 

[Nykademus]

If thats what you see they are Spirorbid worms. Good for your tank and are filter feeders.

They can be seen in most healthy reef tanks.

 

[iaJim]

Here's my attempt at a photo. They are probably a little less than 1/16th of an inch across, even though they appear much larger in this photo. And now I'm not so sure that they do move.

Eggs of some type?

 

[iaJim]

Found another post about the same thing here.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=132842&highlight=snail+egg+capsule

 

[tibbs2]

Interesting. So they may be nassarius snail eggs? Do you have those snails in your tank?

 

[iaJim]

I do. I haven't seen them, but I bought a few in January. Now I don't know whether to leave them for a while or to go ahead and clean the glass. I guess I'll give them a week.

 

[iaJim]

I found a loupe, and could see that there are probably 75 little eggs in each of the sacs. Pretty cool.

 

[jeolson]

let us know if you find out what they are

 

[RobynT]

Just a few days ago I have noticed the same "eggs" on my glass. I have had quite a few (over 10) nas. snails for over a year and so I'm surprised that this is the first time I am seeing snails laying eggs on the glass but that is what has happened. First I noticed the egg trails from where the snails were on the glass and then a day or two latter I noticed the white egg circles. I have stopped cleaning my glass in the corner where these eggs are and I'm keeping an eye on them. I'll post pics if I can.