What in the world is this? ID please

dancewithethan · 03/17/2009, 01:31 AM

I found this in my reef tank this morning. it is about haft an inch long and has hard skeletal shell like spine. It looks like flat worm, but I donâ€™t think flat worm has hard spine, any ideas?

from the bottom view

nemodude · 03/17/2009, 01:47 AM

looks to me like a chiton. They're a type of mollusk that lives on and around rocks. Most of them eat algae, but some are carnivorous. Here's a cool site I found about them. http://home.inreach.com/burghart/

dancewithethan · 03/17/2009, 02:10 AM

should I keep it out of the tank or put it back? if it's not harmful to the corals than I would like to keep it.

Thanks

Frick-n-Frags · 03/17/2009, 02:19 AM

beautiful chiton...micro algae grazer....self populating...great things to have in the tank

CSoli921 · 03/17/2009, 04:42 AM

Definitely a chiton, harmless to have.

robertifly · 03/17/2009, 04:56 AM

+1 chiton, I lucky you. I bought two for my tank from Reef Cleaners. Didn't know they were self populating, that cool!

redfishsc · 03/17/2009, 05:04 AM

Chitons are cool. I was lucky enough to get LR that was "full" of them.

You will most likely see him at night moreso than the day.

Frick-n-Frags · 03/17/2009, 05:09 AM

i have had those around for a long time. they seem really suited to tank life and have taken all the abuse i've dished out over all the years and they are still there.

realistically, i never really noticed their impact as part of the cleaning crew. but they do get on the glass occasionally, so i guess every little bit helps.

one note, these ones ones i have generally have a whitish base color, with pink and/or grey accents and racing stripes. i'm sure i got several at once on a batch of rock somewhere along the way.
So not having had the one you have, i actually cant say whether those reproduce in the tank specifically.

and of course, if that is the only one in your tank, the chances of having a colony get slimmer

dancewithethan · 03/18/2009, 09:41 AM

Everyone, Thanks for all of your input. it's a keeper than.

03/17/2009, 01:31 AM	#1
dancewithethan Ethan M Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Rafael, California Posts: 673	What in the world is this? ID please I found this in my reef tank this morning. it is about haft an inch long and has hard skeletal shell like spine. It looks like flat worm, but I donâ€™t think flat worm has hard spine, any ideas? from the bottom view __________________ Good things come to those who’re patiently wait - Ethan - Current Tank Info: Tank:~ 70 Gs Cadlight + 20 Gs sump\| Lights: 36" ATI Sunpower Dimmable T5x6 39W \| Skimmer: Octo\| Vortech M1 return\| GeoReef Cal Reactor \|2 MP10 VorTech + MaxSpect GyreXF150\|Neptune APEX Controller\|Skimz Bio Pellets\| Emperor Aquatics UV 18W Sterilizer

03/17/2009, 01:47 AM	#2
nemodude Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pottstown PA Posts: 83	looks to me like a chiton. They're a type of mollusk that lives on and around rocks. Most of them eat algae, but some are carnivorous. Here's a cool site I found about them. http://home.inreach.com/burghart/ __________________ I don't smoke the reefer. I am a reefer. Current Tank Info: 15 gallon FOWLR

03/17/2009, 02:10 AM	#3
dancewithethan Ethan M Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Rafael, California Posts: 673	should I keep it out of the tank or put it back? if it's not harmful to the corals than I would like to keep it. Thanks __________________ Good things come to those who’re patiently wait - Ethan - Current Tank Info: Tank:~ 70 Gs Cadlight + 20 Gs sump\| Lights: 36" ATI Sunpower Dimmable T5x6 39W \| Skimmer: Octo\| Vortech M1 return\| GeoReef Cal Reactor \|2 MP10 VorTech + MaxSpect GyreXF150\|Neptune APEX Controller\|Skimz Bio Pellets\| Emperor Aquatics UV 18W Sterilizer

03/17/2009, 02:19 AM	#4
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	beautiful chiton...micro algae grazer....self populating...great things to have in the tank __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

03/17/2009, 04:56 AM	#6
robertifly Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milan, Tn Posts: 867	+1 chiton, I lucky you. I bought two for my tank from Reef Cleaners. Didn't know they were self populating, that cool! __________________ reefracer Current Tank Info: none

03/17/2009, 04:42 AM	#5
CSoli921 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 50	Definitely a chiton, harmless to have.

03/17/2009, 05:04 AM	#7
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Chitons are cool. I was lucky enough to get LR that was "full" of them. You will most likely see him at night moreso than the day. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

03/17/2009, 05:09 AM	#8
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	i have had those around for a long time. they seem really suited to tank life and have taken all the abuse i've dished out over all the years and they are still there. realistically, i never really noticed their impact as part of the cleaning crew. but they do get on the glass occasionally, so i guess every little bit helps. one note, these ones ones i have generally have a whitish base color, with pink and/or grey accents and racing stripes. i'm sure i got several at once on a batch of rock somewhere along the way. So not having had the one you have, i actually cant say whether those reproduce in the tank specifically. and of course, if that is the only one in your tank, the chances of having a colony get slimmer __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

03/18/2009, 09:41 AM	#9
dancewithethan Ethan M Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Rafael, California Posts: 673	Everyone, Thanks for all of your input. it's a keeper than. __________________ Good things come to those who’re patiently wait - Ethan - Current Tank Info: Tank:~ 70 Gs Cadlight + 20 Gs sump\| Lights: 36" ATI Sunpower Dimmable T5x6 39W \| Skimmer: Octo\| Vortech M1 return\| GeoReef Cal Reactor \|2 MP10 VorTech + MaxSpect GyreXF150\|Neptune APEX Controller\|Skimz Bio Pellets\| Emperor Aquatics UV 18W Sterilizer