What is this...

heyfredyourhat · 08/17/2008, 11:20 PM

I have lost a few zoas in the last week or so. I thought they were sundial snails but they dont have the "trap door". At least not that i can see...Now that i am looking for them i see them everywhere in the tank though

They seem to be flattish almost slug like but they are crunchy, and the whites seem to be v shaped not so much checkered, they move pretty quick for there size, i find them in the open and under rocks....

A bad picture but that is as close as i can get

cloak · 08/18/2008, 03:18 AM

Sundial?

tmz · 08/18/2008, 01:30 PM

Hard to tell from the picture but I don't see the usual shell pattern of the sundial snail(Archtictonica spp.). If it were my tank I'd assume the snail you found in the zoanthus was predatory.

heyfredyourhat · 08/18/2008, 01:42 PM

I thinki have ruled it out as a sundial and possibly a nerite snail...??

I am pretty sure i found a nudi last nite, so tonight i am gonna get him out of there. Then hopefully things will get better.

pagojoe · 08/18/2008, 11:13 PM

Nah, the snail is not a sundial. There are about four things that it could be, and all are algae grazers. The most likely is a trochid, as there are several Stomatolina and Pseudostomatella species that look similar. If that is a slit in the shell near the anterior lip, it may be a scissurellid, but if it is, it's mighty colorful for that family. It may also be a baby Turbo, but it would have an obvious operculum, most likely. The last thing I can think of that if might be, if it isn't one of the above, is a baby abalone, but it should have some holes along the outer rim of the shell even if it's small. Probably more likely that you have a nudi doing the damage.

Cheers,

Don

tmz · 08/18/2008, 11:18 PM

Thanks for the information Don.

08/17/2008, 11:20 PM	#1
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	What is this... I have lost a few zoas in the last week or so. I thought they were sundial snails but they dont have the "trap door". At least not that i can see...Now that i am looking for them i see them everywhere in the tank though They seem to be flattish almost slug like but they are crunchy, and the whites seem to be v shaped not so much checkered, they move pretty quick for there size, i find them in the open and under rocks.... A bad picture but that is as close as i can get

08/18/2008, 01:30 PM	#3
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Hard to tell from the picture but I don't see the usual shell pattern of the sundial snail(Archtictonica spp.). If it were my tank I'd assume the snail you found in the zoanthus was predatory. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

08/18/2008, 11:18 PM	#6
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Thanks for the information Don. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

08/18/2008, 03:18 AM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Sundial?

08/18/2008, 01:42 PM	#4
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	I thinki have ruled it out as a sundial and possibly a nerite snail...?? I am pretty sure i found a nudi last nite, so tonight i am gonna get him out of there. Then hopefully things will get better.

08/18/2008, 11:13 PM	#5
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Nah, the snail is not a sundial. There are about four things that it could be, and all are algae grazers. The most likely is a trochid, as there are several Stomatolina and Pseudostomatella species that look similar. If that is a slit in the shell near the anterior lip, it may be a scissurellid, but if it is, it's mighty colorful for that family. It may also be a baby Turbo, but it would have an obvious operculum, most likely. The last thing I can think of that if might be, if it isn't one of the above, is a baby abalone, but it should have some holes along the outer rim of the shell even if it's small. Probably more likely that you have a nudi doing the damage. Cheers, Don