What is this?

bretdajet · 01/23/2007, 05:35 AM

I saw this thing 2 nights ago and was finally able to get a semi-clear picture this morning. Can someone help me identify it. I have a couple other pictures @ www.brettwilford.com/worm.html

reefshadow · 01/23/2007, 06:32 AM

It is hard to tell but looks like a chiton. I have a few I hardly ever see. Mine are nocturnal and seem to feed on algal films.

serpentman · 01/23/2007, 06:36 AM

That was the first thing that came to mind as well.

Paintbug · 01/23/2007, 10:12 AM

cryptoplax chiton for sure.

bretdajet · 01/23/2007, 11:38 AM

SO this is not a bad thing to have in my tank? I always get a little nervouse when I can't identify it

Paintbug · 01/23/2007, 12:58 PM

they are usually algae grazers. although they can get kinda big sometimes depending on the species.

bretdajet · 01/24/2007, 05:19 AM

I looked around for some more info and found a few places were people had problems with then eating their coraline. Has anyone here had that problem? Was it enough to be of concern?

Shagsbeard · 01/24/2007, 07:18 AM

Don't make it a problem until it is one. You're certainly not going to wake up one morning and find all of the coraline gone. If you start seeing tracks of coraline that has been eaten, you might want to remove him.

Problem species are typically ones that reproduce like mad... or target specific species we wish to keep.

bretdajet · 01/24/2007, 08:01 AM

Was not going to do anything drastic. just wanted to see what other have expirienced.

reefshadow · 01/24/2007, 04:38 PM

From what I can tell of my chitons they don't wander far from where they must hide in the day. I can look in the tank after dark and see them in almost exactly the same place every time, kind of weird.

I've never noticed anything happening to the coralline except it is growing out of control

Paintbug · 01/24/2007, 08:21 PM

a few creature munching coralline some is not a bad thing, it helps open the pores in the rocks, which makes them better as filtration.

01/23/2007, 05:35 AM	#1
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	What is this? I saw this thing 2 nights ago and was finally able to get a semi-clear picture this morning. Can someone help me identify it. I have a couple other pictures @ www.brettwilford.com/worm.html __________________ Brett S. Wilford

01/23/2007, 06:32 AM	#2
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	It is hard to tell but looks like a chiton. I have a few I hardly ever see. Mine are nocturnal and seem to feed on algal films. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

01/23/2007, 06:36 AM	#3
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	That was the first thing that came to mind as well. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

01/23/2007, 10:12 AM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	cryptoplax chiton for sure. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

01/23/2007, 11:38 AM	#5
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	SO this is not a bad thing to have in my tank? I always get a little nervouse when I can't identify it __________________ Brett S. Wilford

01/23/2007, 12:58 PM	#6
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	they are usually algae grazers. although they can get kinda big sometimes depending on the species. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

01/24/2007, 05:19 AM	#7
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	I looked around for some more info and found a few places were people had problems with then eating their coraline. Has anyone here had that problem? Was it enough to be of concern? __________________ Brett S. Wilford

01/24/2007, 07:18 AM	#8
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Don't make it a problem until it is one. You're certainly not going to wake up one morning and find all of the coraline gone. If you start seeing tracks of coraline that has been eaten, you might want to remove him. Problem species are typically ones that reproduce like mad... or target specific species we wish to keep.

01/24/2007, 08:01 AM	#9
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	Was not going to do anything drastic. just wanted to see what other have expirienced. __________________ Brett S. Wilford

01/24/2007, 04:38 PM	#10
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	From what I can tell of my chitons they don't wander far from where they must hide in the day. I can look in the tank after dark and see them in almost exactly the same place every time, kind of weird. I've never noticed anything happening to the coralline except it is growing out of control __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

01/24/2007, 08:21 PM	#11
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	a few creature munching coralline some is not a bad thing, it helps open the pores in the rocks, which makes them better as filtration. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently