where do barnacles come from?

[coryjac0b]

I was re-arranging rock today and found a fighting conch that had been i guess behind rockwork for a while. I got him about 5 months ago. when i purchased him he didn't have anything on his shell, but now he has 2 barnacle "pods" one looks like it is living.

Are they good or bad, also do they just happen naturally or did they have to be introduced?

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I doubt they will cause any harm to your conch. No animal just "happens naturally", unless your an evolutionist - they are all introduced.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I didn't mean that to cause a religious ruccus, it was just a joke.

 

[ludnix]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10408683#post10408683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
I didn't mean that to cause a religious ruccus, it was just a joke.

Not a religious ruccus just a scientific head ache.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Re: where do barnacles come from?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10408100#post10408100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coryjac0b
where do barnacles come from?

When a mommy barnacle and a daddy barnacle love eachother very much.....


It was probably introduced at some point, in all likelihood it was already attached to your conch, and has just had a chance to grow to a point where it is more noticeable. Barnacles on conchs is somewhat common. Hopefully it will continue to grow for you- most dont do well long term for lack of food, but that kind of growth is a good sign!