black lipods?

Brent RH · 01/19/2009, 04:54 PM

I have a invert pocket book that has a clip on black lipods being a hazard to some corals. One LFS store I use has an employee that searches the LR tank for lipods to put in her tank at home. The other LFS I use says pull em when you see them. THEY ARE REPRODUCING IN MY TANK AT A DECENT RATE AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!!!!!

cloak · 01/19/2009, 05:40 PM

Lipod or limpet? Check this out.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php

HTH. Never heard of lipods before.

Here's another one.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-08/rs/index.php

Brent RH · 01/19/2009, 05:57 PM

No its not in your links. I wish I could get my camera to work with this site. So, these things move like snails- when they are on the glass, their underside looks like a snail, they are all black(except for underside) with a small amount of white shell showing on their back(in a straight line), a black curtain all around their body, oval shaped, they grow in diameter but not in hight. sorry I know its a pain to play the guessing game

cloak · 01/19/2009, 06:05 PM

Stomatella snail? Something like this with a black shell?

Brent RH · 01/19/2009, 06:36 PM

yes but the shell is under the skin with a small line of the shell showing on their back. I've heard these guys are always ending up in tanks as hitch hikers from the live rock bin.

Brent RH · 01/19/2009, 06:38 PM

shell is white, skin is black. I found the shell from a dead one once and it looked just like a womans acrylic finger nail.

Elysia · 01/19/2009, 08:32 PM

Are you talking about Scutus spp.? If you don't want any large ones that you have, I would be willing to pay to have them shipped to me, as I currently have only one.

Although Scutus are snails, not slugs, there is information about them on the extremely helpful seaslug forum.

VacavilleFC3S · 01/19/2009, 08:40 PM

he's talking about conch, they have skin over there shell

sassafrass · 01/19/2009, 08:52 PM

Chiton or keyhole limpit

Brent RH · 01/19/2009, 09:36 PM

Elysia, so they are called scutus. Ok, so clue me in. whats the deal with these guys? Why do you want them. They only come out when the lights are out. I've been flushing them. Good? Bad? How come so many people know so much more than me on here that have been in this hobby for such a short amount of time!!??? must be a lot of book worms on here!! Sure I'd ship you some if you have a practical idea for making it happen.

Whys · 01/19/2009, 10:25 PM

Brent, we know more primarily because we are a collective unit. Have you ever heard of the beans in a jar experiment? Studies found that when a large jar was filled with beans and 1000 people were asked to guess how many were in it, it was very rare that any one person would guess the right number, but when they averaged them all together, the answer was often dead on.

I'm willing to bet there is something in this hobby you know a lot better than many of us. Should the day ever come that we need to ask that question, then it is you who will be the expert.

Whys · 01/19/2009, 10:28 PM

Elysia, why do want more Scutus? Are they particularly helpful in anyway?

Brent RH · 01/20/2009, 04:10 PM

Yes Elysia fill us in on this mystery item. And Whys- what are your thoughts on these guys?

Brent RH · 01/20/2009, 04:10 PM

guys--I meant critters

Whys · 01/20/2009, 04:13 PM

Sorry Brent, I don't know anything about them. I assume Elysia wants them for diversity, which would suggest they are not so bad.

Elysia · 01/20/2009, 07:15 PM

My user name is a genus of seaslug. I love seaslugs! Scutus are slug-like (often mistaken as a slug.) And I scan the threads looking for titles that might be slug related, in the hope that I can learn more about them or help someone with the little bit that I know about them.

Just like the Asterina starfish, people go back and forth on the Scutus spp. Calfo's and Fenner's Reef invertebrates book claims that they can't be trusted, however wetwebmedia (a Calfo Fenner beast) says that they can be trusted. I trust the seaslugforum more, and their reports say that the Scutus is a herbivore. I have one that is quite large; I believe 3" long.

I'm looking for more because I'm all for animals that are attractive and eat algae. They also are of a specific gender, so if I want them to reproduce in my tank, I'm going to need a few. And people only ever get them as hitchhikers from their live rock. Trying to get another one that way is going to be very hit or miss!

I definately wouldn't flush these guys, especially if you haven't seen them doing anything bad. If you can, post some pictures so we can be sure, but your description seems spot-on.

Brent RH · 01/20/2009, 09:56 PM

I know how to use a computer but for what ever reason I have trouble with this sites file size limitations and compressing. The pic up the page looks identical. Bad news for you is that mine range from the size of a dime to 1.5 to 2" I assure they have no problem reproducing. I've thrown many and they keep coming back. I can bank on finding 2 every time I wake up in the middle of the night and walk past my tank. maybe you have more and you don't know it? Do you ever look at your tank when everything is pitch black in the room?

Elysia · 01/21/2009, 01:24 PM

I wish! Mine wasn't a hitchhiker on my rock, but grew up in someone else's system. I got it when they tore their system down. It has become quite limpet like, as it has a favorite spot that it returns to each morning. Of course, it is in an inaccessible corner, but...
I may have a photo when I first introduced it.

sort of at an odd angle, but, never-the-less

Brent RH · 01/21/2009, 06:35 PM

Oh yeah, its no mistake. Thats what I have. The ongoing question is... you want more of them. Others are very happy to get rid of them.

Elysia · 01/21/2009, 06:42 PM

Again, I think they are attractive. And I have hair algae everywhere! I think people want to get rid of them out of fear. I don't fear them. I have been awake at all hours of the night, and have looked into the tank at all hours. It has never been doing anything even remotely suspect. Plus, I already have a pencil/sputnik urchin in my tank, that eats coraline. So I am willing to put up w/ a little less-than-perfect behavior for a cool animal.

Real shame that people are killing these animals. They are so cool.

michellejy · 01/21/2009, 07:23 PM

I have a ton of them in my tank, and as far as I've been able to observe, they eat algae. They keep my rocks clean and every so often I find one on the glass.

I wish people weren't so quick to kill everything they aren't familiar with. Mine came on liverock from a thriving reef aquarium, and I've never seen anything to lead me to believe they are the slightest bit destructive. They're good guys and interesting looking as a bonus.

Brent RH · 01/21/2009, 07:38 PM

Alright well they'll stay in peace. Thanks for your help. puts me at ease

Elysia · 01/21/2009, 09:56 PM

Think of it this way: this guys hitchhike on live rock, which usually doesn't have anything on it other than film algae. And they survive in brand new tanks and established reefs alike. So really, unless they are eating rock, the only thing that is present in everyone's aquarium, in enough numbers for these animals to grow and spawn, is algae. My hope that my Scutus will eat my hair algae may be a pipe dream, but at the very least they eat film algaes -- why purchase animals to fill in that niche when you can have them for free? I'm glad the rest of yours are going to live on in your reef.

michellejy · 01/22/2009, 09:19 AM

Elysia- I don't think they eat hair algae at all, unless it is at the very beginning stages, at least from what I can tell. My sea hare and Mexican turbo seem to be the only things that will touch it other than my foxface.

Elysia · 01/22/2009, 05:40 PM

Michelle: understood; if you read my post above, I believe they eat film algae.

01/19/2009, 04:54 PM	#1
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	black lipods? I have a invert pocket book that has a clip on black lipods being a hazard to some corals. One LFS store I use has an employee that searches the LR tank for lipods to put in her tank at home. The other LFS I use says pull em when you see them. THEY ARE REPRODUCING IN MY TANK AT A DECENT RATE AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!!!!!

01/21/2009, 01:24 PM	#18
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	I wish! Mine wasn't a hitchhiker on my rock, but grew up in someone else's system. I got it when they tore their system down. It has become quite limpet like, as it has a favorite spot that it returns to each morning. Of course, it is in an inaccessible corner, but... I may have a photo when I first introduced it. sort of at an odd angle, but, never-the-less Last edited by Elysia; 01/21/2009 at 01:43 PM.

01/21/2009, 07:23 PM	#21
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	I have a ton of them in my tank, and as far as I've been able to observe, they eat algae. They keep my rocks clean and every so often I find one on the glass. I wish people weren't so quick to kill everything they aren't familiar with. Mine came on liverock from a thriving reef aquarium, and I've never seen anything to lead me to believe they are the slightest bit destructive. They're good guys and interesting looking as a bonus. __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano

01/22/2009, 09:19 AM	#24
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	Elysia- I don't think they eat hair algae at all, unless it is at the very beginning stages, at least from what I can tell. My sea hare and Mexican turbo seem to be the only things that will touch it other than my foxface. __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano

01/19/2009, 05:40 PM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Lipod or limpet? Check this out. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php HTH. Never heard of lipods before. Here's another one. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-08/rs/index.php

01/19/2009, 05:57 PM	#3
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	No its not in your links. I wish I could get my camera to work with this site. So, these things move like snails- when they are on the glass, their underside looks like a snail, they are all black(except for underside) with a small amount of white shell showing on their back(in a straight line), a black curtain all around their body, oval shaped, they grow in diameter but not in hight. sorry I know its a pain to play the guessing game

01/19/2009, 06:05 PM	#4
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Stomatella snail? Something like this with a black shell?

01/19/2009, 06:36 PM	#5
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	yes but the shell is under the skin with a small line of the shell showing on their back. I've heard these guys are always ending up in tanks as hitch hikers from the live rock bin.

01/19/2009, 06:38 PM	#6
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	shell is white, skin is black. I found the shell from a dead one once and it looked just like a womans acrylic finger nail.

01/19/2009, 08:32 PM	#7
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Are you talking about Scutus spp.? If you don't want any large ones that you have, I would be willing to pay to have them shipped to me, as I currently have only one. Although Scutus are snails, not slugs, there is information about them on the extremely helpful seaslug forum.

01/19/2009, 08:40 PM	#8
VacavilleFC3S Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vacaville California Posts: 2,613	he's talking about conch, they have skin over there shell

01/19/2009, 08:52 PM	#9
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	Chiton or keyhole limpit

01/19/2009, 09:36 PM	#10
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	Elysia, so they are called scutus. Ok, so clue me in. whats the deal with these guys? Why do you want them. They only come out when the lights are out. I've been flushing them. Good? Bad? How come so many people know so much more than me on here that have been in this hobby for such a short amount of time!!??? must be a lot of book worms on here!! Sure I'd ship you some if you have a practical idea for making it happen.

01/19/2009, 10:25 PM	#11
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Brent, we know more primarily because we are a collective unit. Have you ever heard of the beans in a jar experiment? Studies found that when a large jar was filled with beans and 1000 people were asked to guess how many were in it, it was very rare that any one person would guess the right number, but when they averaged them all together, the answer was often dead on. I'm willing to bet there is something in this hobby you know a lot better than many of us. Should the day ever come that we need to ask that question, then it is you who will be the expert.

01/19/2009, 10:28 PM	#12
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Elysia, why do want more Scutus? Are they particularly helpful in anyway?

01/20/2009, 04:10 PM	#13
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	Yes Elysia fill us in on this mystery item. And Whys- what are your thoughts on these guys?

01/20/2009, 04:13 PM	#15
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Sorry Brent, I don't know anything about them. I assume Elysia wants them for diversity, which would suggest they are not so bad.

01/20/2009, 07:15 PM	#16
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	My user name is a genus of seaslug. I love seaslugs! Scutus are slug-like (often mistaken as a slug.) And I scan the threads looking for titles that might be slug related, in the hope that I can learn more about them or help someone with the little bit that I know about them. Just like the Asterina starfish, people go back and forth on the Scutus spp. Calfo's and Fenner's Reef invertebrates book claims that they can't be trusted, however wetwebmedia (a Calfo Fenner beast) says that they can be trusted. I trust the seaslugforum more, and their reports say that the Scutus is a herbivore. I have one that is quite large; I believe 3" long. I'm looking for more because I'm all for animals that are attractive and eat algae. They also are of a specific gender, so if I want them to reproduce in my tank, I'm going to need a few. And people only ever get them as hitchhikers from their live rock. Trying to get another one that way is going to be very hit or miss! I definately wouldn't flush these guys, especially if you haven't seen them doing anything bad. If you can, post some pictures so we can be sure, but your description seems spot-on.

01/20/2009, 09:56 PM	#17
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	I know how to use a computer but for what ever reason I have trouble with this sites file size limitations and compressing. The pic up the page looks identical. Bad news for you is that mine range from the size of a dime to 1.5 to 2" I assure they have no problem reproducing. I've thrown many and they keep coming back. I can bank on finding 2 every time I wake up in the middle of the night and walk past my tank. maybe you have more and you don't know it? Do you ever look at your tank when everything is pitch black in the room?

01/21/2009, 06:35 PM	#19
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	Oh yeah, its no mistake. Thats what I have. The ongoing question is... you want more of them. Others are very happy to get rid of them.

01/21/2009, 06:42 PM	#20
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Again, I think they are attractive. And I have hair algae everywhere! I think people want to get rid of them out of fear. I don't fear them. I have been awake at all hours of the night, and have looked into the tank at all hours. It has never been doing anything even remotely suspect. Plus, I already have a pencil/sputnik urchin in my tank, that eats coraline. So I am willing to put up w/ a little less-than-perfect behavior for a cool animal. Real shame that people are killing these animals. They are so cool.

01/21/2009, 07:38 PM	#22
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	Alright well they'll stay in peace. Thanks for your help. puts me at ease

01/21/2009, 09:56 PM	#23
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Think of it this way: this guys hitchhike on live rock, which usually doesn't have anything on it other than film algae. And they survive in brand new tanks and established reefs alike. So really, unless they are eating rock, the only thing that is present in everyone's aquarium, in enough numbers for these animals to grow and spawn, is algae. My hope that my Scutus will eat my hair algae may be a pipe dream, but at the very least they eat film algaes -- why purchase animals to fill in that niche when you can have them for free? I'm glad the rest of yours are going to live on in your reef.

01/22/2009, 05:40 PM	#25
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Michelle: understood; if you read my post above, I believe they eat film algae.