Snail has left it's shell...and now buried under the sand.

[laurenhope]

I am constantly trying to save my snails. They are always falling on their "backs" or getting beaten up by my hermit crabs. But today, I noticed something strange..one of my snails seems to have lost is shell and is now buried under the sand. He's a little guy, I doubt he will last very long without the shell. But I am curious...has this ever happened to anyone else?

 

[billsreef]

Snails can't lose their shells, and still be alive. That picture isn't good enough for ID purposes, but that is likely something other than a snail.

 

[edsbeaker]

Possibly a Stomatella Snail? They look like they don't have shells, but do.

 

[laurenhope]

I looked up the Stomatella Snail, and it kind of looks like that. It's hard to tell because it will not come out from under the sand. It's still alive, eating the algae off the tank, and moving around some. I've just never seen one of these guys before..it really just looks like a snail without it's shell.

 

[edsbeaker]

Well, if that's what it is, no worries, since they are great for your tank.

 

[laurenhope]

Upon further investigation, I have found 3 more of those little guys! I'm kind of excited! I love finding hitchhikers that are actually helpful! Thanks for the ID!

 

[rounder45]

DR WHO? word...

 

[JarahFroski]

Just recently I had a small nassarius snail lose its shell, probably pulled out via hermit crab, and is still alive to this day. Although it's only been about a month since he lost his shell. Very, VERY odd looking without their armor on. He stays on my frag rack now away from ANY other inhabitants. ... my guess is hell get eaten by an acan or another coral/fish pretty soon.

If you've got a few stomatella snails in your tank, just give it time and you'll have a lot more. I actually just saw some spawning in my tank yesterday for the first time. Was a really cool experience to see.... looked like little eggs and white smoke being released into the water column near the rocks.

 

[grant778]

So thats what those things are. I saw one spawning once in my tank I believe as well.

 

[moe458]

blue legged crab's are PITA. they constantly fight with other crabs and kill snails...i got rid of them.

 

[disc1]

Snails can't lose their shells, and still be alive. That picture isn't good enough for ID purposes, but that is likely something other than a snail.