Stomatella good or bad?

[edandsandy]

We have Stomatella's'a in our tank, they have eaten about $100.00 worth of Xena's and mushrooms. We pick out 4 or 5 a night and throw them in our 135 aggressive tank. Everyone in there love's them. They are gone before they are 1/2 way down.
My question is: Do I need t keep picking them out of the tank. When will it ever end!
Or do I just leave them in the tank?
Oh, since we have these Stomatella's in the tank. I have not bought any more Xena's. That really makes me upset, I love to watch them pulse. It always reminds me of the show Little Shop of Horror. LOL

 

[KUDA]

I don't think you have stomatellas. Stomatellas only eat algae.

 

[KUDA]

Take a picture if you could.

 

[Steveabg]

We have a few stomatella in our tank, and they only graze on algae. Do they look like this?

<img src="http://www.reefland.com/rho/0305/images/stomatella.jpg">

The defining feature is the really long body and the small shell.

 

[mamagoose45]

I've never heard of stomatellas eating corals...most people will agree that they are on the good guys team...

 

[greenbean36191]

Right. Their physiology is adapted to deal with algae, not animal tissue. The internal anatomy of herbivorous and carnivorous snails is pretty different and most species can't switch hit. Stomatella isn't one that can. Either your snails aren't Stomatella or something else is causing your problems.

 

[edandsandy]

I will take a picture.
Steveabg, they kinda looks like that picture.
I'm sure we will find some tonight! we always do.

 

[edandsandy]

FYI..........
We did ask the LFS about these snails. They said that they were eating our Xena's,
is the LFS out of there minds? or are they just filling their pocket?

 

[edandsandy]

Here are 2 small ones.

 

[tmz]

They look like stomatella but its hard to tellfrom the picture.. Stomatella have a shell that only covers part of their body. I believe they are commonly called head sheild slugs. They do not eat coral based on every reference I've read and in my experience and are considered very beneficail alagae grazers. I wish I had even more.Your coral could be dying from something else and they could be eating algae growing on the nutrients form necrotic tissue.

 

[Sk8r]

I've never heard of stomatellas eating anything but algae. Logic says if stomatellas eat only algae, and what you've got looks like stomatellas, but eats meat, you've got a look-alike of some kind, sort of like koalas and pandas look like bears and aren't. The ocean is wide, and there are surprises in it. I'm sure curious.

I'll say points of resemblance to the stomatellas I know are the long antennae and the shield-back; BUT these guys are redder, and quite round in body, while mine were elongate, moved like greased lightning [for a snail] and dun brown to black/gray patterned. They didn't like bright light.

 

[edandsandy]

I agree that they are only supposed to eat algae, from all the research we have been doing and reading info. here at the RC.
HOWEVER, we have seen them at the base of there Xena's and the next morning where they were, their was a piece missing from the Xena's, and needless to say the Xena's died. I will try and take another picture of them tonight. These guy's move very, very fast when you try to get them out of the tank. Well with all that being said, we do not have any of the Xena's in the tank, and we won't be replacing them any time soon. If everyone agrees that they are ok for the tank, we will stop plucking them out 1 by 1, I'm sure our other tank will miss their late night treats. THANKS again for everyone's advice.

 

[greenbean36191]

Those are definitely Stomatella. There is absolutely no way, shape, or form that they're causing the demise of your Xenia. All of the snails in the order these guy come from are exclusively herbivorous. They don't have the equipment to eat meat. Eating meat for them would be like you trying eat wood. Some animals are adapted to do it, but not you.

I would keep looking for a cause, but unfortunately Xenia is known to be very fickle. In some tanks it can't be stopped and in some it just won't last and there's no apparent reason.

 

[edandsandy]

greenbean36191
OK, I believe you that they did not eat the xenia's. I just needed to know if the pictures I took last night were clear enough to be certain they are stomatella's, they looked a little different from the other pictures I've seen.
I will not be purchasing any more xenia's, as you stated they are very fickle. It really upsets me to see anything die! Let alone all the money we already spend on our reef!
I trust that you are right. Again, our other tank will now be missing their olate night snack!

 

[tpdpercula]

I have Xenia and other corals (SPS & LPS) and have never had any problem with Stomatellas and they are ALL OVER.

 

[edandsandy]

tpdpercula, thanks

 

[gunslingerone9]

i know the feeling i can get almost everything to thrive but xenia, which is funny because some people want to get rid of theirs because it grows some much its a nusiance