Anyone know what this is???

[lunchie]

We cleaned our tank tonight...(only in our 5th week)...We only have a blue damsel, black mollies, snails, hermit crabs, emerald crabs, and an arrow crab. We have crushed coral/shells and around 50 pounds of live rock. (just trying to give background) Anyhow, I was sitting there looking at the tank and noticed something on a piece of base rock that I have never noticed before. I took some photos. One I cropped and zoomed in on it to get a close look. The others I left zoomed out. I am really interested to know if someone can identify this strang thing. I swear it moved as I was staring at it but my eyes could have been playing tricks on me. Can't wait to see if someone has any ideas...

Thanks guys... :?: :?: :?:

 

[lunchie]

Addtional NOTE

It is definitely ALIVE and moving...not my eyes playing tricks...Also, though the picture makes it look big it is fact quite small about the size of a pinky finger nail...
Thanks again...

 

[NaH2O]

lunchie - that is a limpet.

Here is a post about them: Single Post from the thread Let's Talk About ~Snails~. I think they are pretty interesting hitchikers, but one that you may want to keep an eye on. The one limpet I have experience with didn't bother anything, and pretty much stayed on one rock.

Hope this helps!

 

[gehidore]

...The one limpet I have experience with didn't bother anything, and pretty much stayed on one rock.

I too have found many a limpet hitchhiker in my tank(s), I have found them very usefull in small areas like the feed line for my "refugium".
Never had a problem with them.

 

[NaH2O]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!! Love your avatar

 

[gehidore]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!! Love your avatar

Thank you, and Thankyou.

Sadly he is no longer with us

I forgot to replace the intake guards on my rio pumps, the fish decided to take a look and was stuck my the cheek to the intake for ~30 seconds. He wasn't too inclined to swim in the open for a while after that. The next day I couldn't find 'm. I guess he couldn't quite get the hang of swiming backwards <I don't think they're built for it> and then got stuck behind some live rock and the glass, took me 5 hours <minimum> to find him. Recessed him to the refugium, but he didn't last the night.

 

[lunchie]

Thanks for the information. I looked this morning and it was gone, so don't know if it is hiding or what but I just hope it doesn't do any damage. Thanks again.

 

[gehidore]

Thanks for the information. I looked this morning and it was gone, so don't know if it is hiding or what but I just hope it doesn't do any damage.

Primarily they are herbivores, rarely have I seen one munching about on anything other than plant matter. (correct me if I'm wrong here)

 

[Nashon]

I have quite a few limpets. They decided to breed, I must have 80+ ranging from pin head size to a few 1"+ long. I don't have any plant type algae growing in my tank. Or at least any I can see (Maybe they ate it all) so im inclined to believe they are eating some of the detritus or possibly the thin layer of algae that covers the glass. I've never had a problem with them though, they've never climbed coral or bothered any of the snails. Good luck with yours!