Snails ID

maroun.c · 11/15/2009, 02:18 PM

Hi,
Recently these snails have somehow hitchhicked to my tank and seem to be reproducing quite actively. I don't see them on corals but last week saw a couple on a rock where my clam sits (have lsot 3 clams in the last 2-3 months but still never saw them on the clams directly)... they seemt o hide in or under rocks at daytime and go out in the dark mostly to the glass. here are some pics:

compared to a regular sized snail
:

More pics on my build thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...368220&page=38

Any ID on those? Are they reefsafe and at least are they beneficial or should I pick the ones I see out?
Thanks

skippy2 · 11/15/2009, 02:22 PM

Those are stomatella varia. Great algae eaters and reefsafe.

maroun.c · 11/15/2009, 02:22 PM

Thanks.

wrott · 11/15/2009, 03:19 PM

Ditto, good guys.
The kind of snail that is parasitic to clams is a very small, cone shaped pyramid snail
http://reefers.org/album/images/3583_106454.JPG

They can are parasitic to other snails as well, but a different species of pyramid. They are obviously very small, and the best way to get rid of them is brushing (search here and you will find out)

maroun.c · 11/15/2009, 03:30 PM

Thanks for your help.
It's a relieve that I dont have to sart pulling these out as I have nearly a hundred of those. Apparently they are very prolific and that's not really common except in pests...

redfishsc · 11/15/2009, 03:38 PM

The last one is a trochus. Good snail, I have 10 of them in my 45g system.

11/15/2009, 02:18 PM	#1
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	Snails ID Hi, Recently these snails have somehow hitchhicked to my tank and seem to be reproducing quite actively. I don't see them on corals but last week saw a couple on a rock where my clam sits (have lsot 3 clams in the last 2-3 months but still never saw them on the clams directly)... they seemt o hide in or under rocks at daytime and go out in the dark mostly to the glass. here are some pics: compared to a regular sized snail : More pics on my build thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...368220&page=38 Any ID on those? Are they reefsafe and at least are they beneficial or should I pick the ones I see out? Thanks __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

11/15/2009, 02:22 PM	#2
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	Those are stomatella varia. Great algae eaters and reefsafe. __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

11/15/2009, 02:22 PM	#3
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	Thanks. __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

11/15/2009, 03:30 PM	#5
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	Thanks for your help. It's a relieve that I dont have to sart pulling these out as I have nearly a hundred of those. Apparently they are very prolific and that's not really common except in pests... __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

11/15/2009, 03:38 PM	#6
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	The last one is a trochus. Good snail, I have 10 of them in my 45g system. __________________ "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.

11/15/2009, 03:19 PM	#4
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Ditto, good guys. The kind of snail that is parasitic to clams is a very small, cone shaped pyramid snail http://reefers.org/album/images/3583_106454.JPG They can are parasitic to other snails as well, but a different species of pyramid. They are obviously very small, and the best way to get rid of them is brushing (search here and you will find out)