Tiny White Shelled Snails

[TonyV]

So at night while snooping around my tank with a flashlight, I literally see hundreds of small white shelled snails about 1/8" or less. What could these possibly be and are they harmless? Are these babies from my Astrea Snails? Only reason I ask is that they don't seem to grow. I've had them for months now.
It's amazing the life you see from your tank at night.

 

[geemanaz]

do they look like this

PYRAMID SNAILS
If you see little white snails hitching a ride on your turbo snail, astraea, or clam, you may have these nasty parasites. They suck the blood of their host until dead! If you have them, pick them off their hosts until gone. They are species-specific and will only go after the same type snail or clam (clam pyramids won't attack snails and vice-versa).

 

[TonyV]

Thankfully not. They look just like a plain garden snail but all white.

 

[TonyV]

I am thinking they might be collonista snails but I could be wrong.

 

[geemanaz]

can you take a photo of them

 

[TonyV]

Ok here is a photo and I am almost certain these are collonista snails. The second pic is something new I found in my tank. Any idea? It's about 1/4" long and much smaller than my blue legged hermits. Perhaps a baby?

Collonista?

Unknown?

 

[geemanaz]

first is a collonista snails and the other is a Maculotriton serriale they are not reef safe which are predatory / meat eaters

 

[TonyV]

Thanks. First one is reef safe right? Second one is already disposed of. When in doubt, take it out right?

 

[geemanaz]

yes they are reef safe

 

[pagojoe]

The first ones are of course Collonista species, and although the second one looks very much like Maculotriton serriale in color and pattern, I don't think that's what it is. The pattern is never as random as Tony's shell, and the sides of the whorl are typically somewhat convex rather than straight. I'm pretty sure it's a juvenile cerith instead, which would be reef safe.

Cheers,



Don

 

[geemanaz]

First i was thinking it was a Cerithium punctatum but after doing some research on the Shell pattern and i came to the conclusion that the shell pattern match Maculotriton serriale more then a Cerithium.

 

[pagojoe]

Yeah, it's similar for sure. When you are dealing with the juveniles, the super-acute spire usually indicates Cerithium. The random distribution of black dots beyond the first couple of whorls is the best indication, though, along with the straight-sided whorls.

Cheers,


Don