Parasitic snails on a Spiny Urchin.

AcroSteve · 05/11/2008, 02:35 PM

I have never heard of them, but I got an urchen recently and it has been carrying the exact same snails around for a week. One larger one and a smaller one.

pagojoe · 05/11/2008, 10:13 PM

Cool finds, although I'm sure you're not all that thrilled about finding them. I've looked at lots of urchins and never found parasitic snails on them, although I have often found them on holothurians. They are both eulimids. The big fat one is Echineulima robusta, said to be parasitic on Diadema setosum, Echinothrix diadema, and other urchins. I can't tell what the smaller snail is, but it looks to be a species of Vitreolina. You'll probably want to remove them.

Cheers,

Don

AcroSteve · 05/12/2008, 04:05 AM

Thanks

05/11/2008, 02:35 PM	#1
AcroSteve Make my Funk a P-Funk Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Electric Avenue Posts: 5,092	Parasitic snails on a Spiny Urchin. I have never heard of them, but I got an urchen recently and it has been carrying the exact same snails around for a week. One larger one and a smaller one. __________________ **************** "Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em." -- The Webb Wilder Credo -- don't go ninjin' nobody that don't need ninjin'! Current Tank Info: 220g custom plywood. SPS heavy with Sequence Hammerhead return with 4-Way OM. Tunze 6100, 6200 and Wavebox. 5000btu DIY Chiller. Lighting is 10K mh 250W / VHO Actinic Skimer - H&S A200-2x1260

05/12/2008, 04:05 AM	#3
AcroSteve Make my Funk a P-Funk Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Electric Avenue Posts: 5,092	Thanks __________________ **************** "Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em." -- The Webb Wilder Credo -- don't go ninjin' nobody that don't need ninjin'! Current Tank Info: 220g custom plywood. SPS heavy with Sequence Hammerhead return with 4-Way OM. Tunze 6100, 6200 and Wavebox. 5000btu DIY Chiller. Lighting is 10K mh 250W / VHO Actinic Skimer - H&S A200-2x1260

05/11/2008, 10:13 PM	#2
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Cool finds, although I'm sure you're not all that thrilled about finding them. I've looked at lots of urchins and never found parasitic snails on them, although I have often found them on holothurians. They are both eulimids. The big fat one is Echineulima robusta, said to be parasitic on Diadema setosum, Echinothrix diadema, and other urchins. I can't tell what the smaller snail is, but it looks to be a species of Vitreolina. You'll probably want to remove them. Cheers, Don