Snail ID please: Friend or Foe?

[screebo]

It's shell is very flat like a shield and looks just like an abolone. It propagates like crazy in my 20 gal grow out tank. Pictured snail is about 1" long,

 

[Hephalump]

Its a stomatella snail. Very beneficial and will reproduce in your tank.

 

[screebo]

Well thats some nice news. Thanks a bunch. I've watched them broadcasting what must be sperm or larvae in repeating discharges. I'm "pretty sure" I see a l quite a few of juviniles on the reef and in the skimmer body. Any idea what they eat? They'll have to compete with a sea hare for any hair algae. It's a good thing I moved the 6 line wrasse out of that tank as I understand they eat juvinile snails. Thanks again for the ID help.

 

[mscarpena]

They eat all sorts of algae. I love mine. They are my favorite snail.

 

[YoungReefer06]

Yeah they are Stomatella varia sp. snail. They I have many different colors of them in my tank, fuge, sump, inside skimmer, and even in the clear drain hose from the tank to the sump. They live everywhere so I am not sure what they are eating...

 

[YoungReefer06]

Oh yeah, I have a six-line wrasse also, so either the wrasse doesn't eat them, and/or the "fuge" and other refuges in the system keep pumping larvae into the main tank.

 

[Snail-po]

when my tank set up i had around eight of these guys pop up but now there all gone i dont know hwy, wish they didnt. maybe i didnt have enough algea when they first popped out..