snail id please

[fishnub]

it looked as though the little line on the back opened i found about 15 of them in my tank after dark.

 

[NirvanaFan]

looks kind of like a black stomatella snail.

Does the shell look small on the snail?

 

[fishnub]

it dosnt seem to have a shell at all.

 

[pagojoe]

It has a shell, it's just under the mantle. That white stripe you can see down its back is actually part of the shell. It is a Scutus species, also called a Shield Limpet and several other things. Most people consider them harmless. Some are black, some are grey, and some are mottled brown, and the taxonomy isn't set in stone yet as the species were named by their shells, many of which are very similar even if the animals appear to be significantly different:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=scutus&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Cheers,




Don

 

[fishnub]

thanks don!

 

[fishnub]

a little site i found.. after some reasearch it seems a lot of people have them in newer tanks.. but not so often after a few months maybe due to the adding of a cuc and taking all thier food seeing how they only come out at night?

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=scutus

 

[pagojoe]

Many snails are nocturnal, including Scutus species. They show up in new tanks fairly often, but if you have a decent sized tank, they should be able to live and do well (especially if you only have one, which is likely). There are quite a few people who've kept them long-term.

Cheers,



Don

 

[fishnub]

lol, i counted 25 lastnight

 

[pagojoe]

LOL Looks like you had a HATCH, then! (Unless you are counting Stomatellas in with the Scutus.) There are usually people on RC who would be happy to take extras if you decide you don't want them.

Take care,



Don

 

[fishnub]

they all have the same features. so im thinking they are all the same type. i already got tons of dibbs from my local club. they are prolly happy in there with 0 preditors to get a hold of them.

 

[Elysia]

Yep, I'm always on the Scutus saving committee, but after I sing their praises, no one ever seems to want to send them to me...