Friend or Foe?

[Otter]

Found these in my tank this morning, was wondering if anyone could identify them? Thanks.

 

[jasontatro]

Fruity Pebbles?

 

[Otter]

I wish, I pick one of these snails off my Toadstool, Been picking them off my rock all day. So far I'm up to 12 of them any ideas of what type of snails they are

 

[NaH2O]

Any chance of getting a better picture? To see the shape of the shell?

Also, has anything been looking "off" in your tank?

Here is a link - the only red colored shell I found on the site, but I couldn't tell if yours looked similar: http://www.reefimages.com/cgi-reefimages/page.cgi?list=Shells&slide=149.jpg

 

[Otter]

Nothing in my tank is looking "off" at all. Except the toadstool that I picked the first snail off of. It's been closed for the past 2 days. Other than that, they've been on my rock and on my glass. I'll try to post a better pic.

 

[Otter]

I've looked through WetWeb and don't really see any snail that is an exact match. From what I've read it seems like these little guys and girls are Nerites, but I can't find any that are specifically "Red"

 

[Elmo18]

Can't see the pic well beacuse of blurriness, or maybe its just me.

However, are the shells shaped like a nautilus shell?

Also, is the red/pinkish color just coralline or ...no?

- Ilham

 

[Otter]

Sorry the pic is a bit blurry, tried to get a better pic last night. Not happening. One day I'll invest in a better camera.

The shells are shaped like a nautilus shell and they are reddish/pink with small whites spots.

 

[Elmo18]

Well if they are what they are...and assuming the red/pink is coralline, and it does have white...it could be Heliacus arela(sp) . They are predatory eating zoanthid polyps and yellow polyps. Here's one without the red/pink, maybe you can see if it resembles like yours?

- Elmo

 

[Elmo18]

Fruity Pebbles?

LOL jason. Missed your post for some reason. - Ilham

 

[Otter]

They are not Heliacus arela(sp) The Shell itself is red not Coralline These snails are about 1/8" or 3mm whichever you prefer. They look nothing like your pic

 

[NaH2O]

Gaaaa.....I'm still trying to find this. Do they resemble the snails pictured Here? I know these aren't red/pink, but I'm looking for shell shape and possibly pattern. They are very intersting.

Taken from Hitchhiker FAQ - Live Rock page 2

 

[Otter]

Bingo...They are very interesting and I have been keeping a close eye on them. So far they're behaving, Strolling along the glass and rock. Only the one snail was on my Toadstool and it didn't do any damage. I have one of our club members here in Connecticut that wants me to grab a couple for him to put in his tank. The person I received some grape caulerpa from said that he had many different types of snails and that none of them are harmful. But I have been searching the internet trying to find the exact snail which so far I haven't been to lucky with. I'm going to try and get my kid to take a better picture (she's the expert in that dept) and I'll repost when I do
Thanks

 

[NaH2O]

I was looking at Nerite shells....check these out:

http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/TN_Family_NERITIDAE_NERITINAE.html

http://www.femorale.com.br/shellpho...rita+polita+orbignyana+%28R%E8cluz%2C+1841%29

This was a neat site: http://www.molluscan.com/shellimages/

 

[Otter]

Thanks Nikki,

The search will continue

By the way Cool Links