What is this thing?

[Freshy]

I got home tonight and found the thing in this image on one of my rocks with zoos on it.

What is it?

Andrew

 

[Grey Reefer]

That looks like a Zoo munching Nudi. See how the polyps are closed and it has it's head down one of them. Kill it ASAP and search the rock it was on for eggs. I had several Nudi's that came on some clove polyps that was munching them. I found out because they weren't opening up and kept a close eye on them. Later that night I saw the nudi's (I said nudi's) emerge, found the polyps and start munching away. I killed them on sight and took the frag out for closer inspection only to find a cluster of eggs laid on one of the polyps as well. I have not seen them since and all of the polyps are fully extended. So if the polyps are closed and some are looking pretty shabby, chances are that you've got one.

 

[Freshy]

Thanks, I hope it hasn't moved too much by the time I get home and nuke it.


Andrew

 

[graveyardworm]

Generally the zoo munching nudis look like their food. I could be wrong , but I dont think is one.

Can you describe it a bit? Is it hard/soft. My first impression was that its one of the latger types of vermetid snails, but they are immobile so if it wasnt there yesterday then its definatley not a vermetid.

 

[Freshy]

It seems to have a hard shell, someone on another board suggested a vermetid snail after the suggestion of a nudi. I'm thinking it may be some sort of vermetid snail, it seems to be "snotting" and I read this was a common thing for vermetid snails.

The rock it is on, was actually facing a different direction, and one of my various hermits moved it around. It may have been there, and I just didn't notice it. It doesn't seem to be moving.

I'm going to check and see where it is at when I get home tonight.

Andrew

 

[LeslieH]

That's definitely a vermetid snail shell.

 

[Freshy]

SHould I worry about taking it out, or is it reef friendly?


Andrew

 

[graveyardworm]

They are reef friendly. However some people find them to be a bit of a nuisance. They put out long webs that capture food then they reel them back in and eat whatever got captured. The webs can be a bit unsightly, but dont seem to pose any threat to nearby corals, and the corals may actually get a snack out of it as well.

You can read a bit about them here, Snails That Worm Their Way Into Tanks.