Help with ID of slug? snail w/o shell?

renouart · 12/28/2006, 12:41 PM

I have several of these in my tank. They look like a snail without a shell. Their backside is black, and they move along the glass like a snail. Does anyone know what these are? Are they naughty or nice? Thanks for your help.

kiknchikn · 12/28/2006, 12:43 PM

That looks like the under side of a Stomatella varia snail to me.. which are great to have in a tank.

Here is a picture of one of mine:

www.MikesReef.com

papagimp · 12/28/2006, 12:47 PM

HA, I got ya both beat, check out this winner!

Shame i can only find one blue one amonst all these normal stometellas in my tank.

fwiw, they are excellent to have in your system. Great detritus eaters, they keep my sump nice and clean, keep my cheato ball nice and clean. harmless as they come. And they do have a shell, it's just little and pulls off very easily. Be gentle with em.
They also come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Someone here locally has one with orange spots on it!

renouart · 12/28/2006, 12:48 PM

I don't think this is what I have since the back of mine is black and pretty smooth.

papagimp · 12/28/2006, 12:50 PM

Renouart, that photo you stuck up is a stometella, they can have black shells. see how smooth my blue guys shell is?

kiknchikn · 12/28/2006, 01:13 PM

For further confirmation...if you look closely enough at the shell you should see the typical spiral growth pattern of a snail. It will be more noticeable towards the rear of the snail and a little to one side (assuming coralline or other growths haven't covered it up).

Nice blue stomatella papagimp. Shame you can't propagate it like a coral and start a collection of blue stomas.

papagimp · 12/28/2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kiknchikn
Nice blue stomatella papagimp. Shame you can't propagate it like a coral and start a collection of blue stomas.

I search my setup every night when the Stom's come out and play, the moment I find a second one, there going into a "blue stometella breeding tank"

I've got someone supposed to be bringing me some solid black ones, (body and shell). Maybe I can cross breed em?

Amphiprion · 12/28/2006, 03:36 PM

The different color morphs don't seem all that uncommon to me. There are many variable colors, which is why they are Stomatella varia.

papagimp · 12/28/2006, 03:51 PM

It's not that there uncommon Amphiprion, it's that all those nice color morphs arn't in my tank.

I got one pretty blue one, the other 100+ of em are ugly as sin.

renouart · 12/28/2006, 10:12 PM

Can you buy these? It seems all my other snails die, except for the Nassarius. The astria, margharita and cerith didn't last more than a couple months. Can't figure out the problem, unless it is the hermit crabs.

kiknchikn · 12/29/2006, 10:32 PM

If you didnt provide the hermits with shells to grow into they're probably killing your cerith snails for their shells. Sometimes stores sell a species of margarita snail that is from colder waters, which do not live long in the tropical temperatures of our tanks.

I assume you aren't finding the snail shells smashed or with holes in them, right?

dwculp · 12/29/2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by renouart
Can you buy these? It seems all my other snails die, except for the Nassarius. The astria, margharita and cerith didn't last more than a couple months. Can't figure out the problem, unless it is the hermit crabs.

Hermit crabs are a scourge, especially larger ones (anything over 1/4 inch). I bought some Mexican Turbos and some Margarita snails yesterday. This morning there was already a hermit running around sporting a nice new Mexican Turbo shell as his home.

12/28/2006, 12:41 PM	#1
renouart Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 91	Help with ID of slug? snail w/o shell? I have several of these in my tank. They look like a snail without a shell. Their backside is black, and they move along the glass like a snail. Does anyone know what these are? Are they naughty or nice? Thanks for your help.

12/28/2006, 12:43 PM	#2
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	That looks like the under side of a Stomatella varia snail to me.. which are great to have in a tank. Here is a picture of one of mine: www.MikesReef.com __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

12/28/2006, 12:47 PM	#3
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	HA, I got ya both beat, check out this winner! Shame i can only find one blue one amonst all these normal stometellas in my tank. fwiw, they are excellent to have in your system. Great detritus eaters, they keep my sump nice and clean, keep my cheato ball nice and clean. harmless as they come. And they do have a shell, it's just little and pulls off very easily. Be gentle with em. They also come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Someone here locally has one with orange spots on it! __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/28/2006, 12:50 PM	#5
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Renouart, that photo you stuck up is a stometella, they can have black shells. see how smooth my blue guys shell is? __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/28/2006, 01:13 PM	#6
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	For further confirmation...if you look closely enough at the shell you should see the typical spiral growth pattern of a snail. It will be more noticeable towards the rear of the snail and a little to one side (assuming coralline or other growths haven't covered it up). Nice blue stomatella papagimp. Shame you can't propagate it like a coral and start a collection of blue stomas. __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

12/28/2006, 12:48 PM	#4
renouart Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 91	I don't think this is what I have since the back of mine is black and pretty smooth.

12/28/2006, 03:36 PM	#8
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	The different color morphs don't seem all that uncommon to me. There are many variable colors, which is why they are Stomatella varia. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

12/28/2006, 03:51 PM	#9
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	It's not that there uncommon Amphiprion, it's that all those nice color morphs arn't in my tank. I got one pretty blue one, the other 100+ of em are ugly as sin. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/28/2006, 10:12 PM	#10
renouart Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 91	Can you buy these? It seems all my other snails die, except for the Nassarius. The astria, margharita and cerith didn't last more than a couple months. Can't figure out the problem, unless it is the hermit crabs.

12/29/2006, 10:32 PM	#11
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	If you didnt provide the hermits with shells to grow into they're probably killing your cerith snails for their shells. Sometimes stores sell a species of margarita snail that is from colder waters, which do not live long in the tropical temperatures of our tanks. I assume you aren't finding the snail shells smashed or with holes in them, right? __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef