What are these, pests?

[RG Rude]

Are these pests? They are on the glass of the tank just below the waterline.

 

[jvdub20]

Looks like vermetid snails. If they are, I think they're pests. They put out a mucus net that can cover up corals and irritate them. I hate these things but they keep popping up everywhere.

 

[RG Rude]

Looks like vermetid snails. If they are, I think they're pests. They put out a mucus net that can cover up corals and irritate them. I hate these things but they keep popping up everywhere.

I did some googling with the information that you provided and realized that you are correct. I believe these are vermetid gastropods called Petaloconchus montereyensis. Thanks for your help.

 

[jvdub20]

Ya no problem. From what I've read, coral crabs can help keep the mucus webs in check

 

[RG Rude]

Ya no problem. From what I've read, coral crabs can help keep the mucus webs in check

Thanks. I removed the ones on the glass and destroyed them.

 

[olemiss reb]

Those were a species of Chitons, beneficial grazers. Not vermitids.

 

[jvdub20]

Those were a species of Chitons, beneficial grazers. Not vermitids.

I may be wrong, but all the chitons I've ever seen have a flatter body and don't have that protrusion coming off the body

 

[alexander_ktn]

I agree on them being vermetid snails. Chitons are mobile and look different.

As for being pests: I would not be worried too much, unless there are too many of them they even help keeping the water clean by filtering out particles. They can easily be removed or the opening glued shut if they multiply too much, so not a big issue all in all.

 

[downbeach]

Look like Spirorbis worms.

See here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/index.php

 

[olemiss reb]

I could be wrong as I'm not familiar with the thousands of different Chitonidae. I was basing the idea on the 8 plates, distinct shell, and that it looks motile.-- points to chiton imo.

 

[finsurgeon]

They are vermetids, and you did the right thing to take them out. Once they multiply, it gets pretty hard to get rid of them. And they can irritate a nice coral enough that it can be the difference between thriving and not. I left mine alone until they got out of control, and it was a ton more work and trouble, and even now I have them in hard-to-reach places.