Last night I happened to notice for the first time two interesting snail-like creatures cruising around my tank. They were about the size of an enlarged pencil eraser when they curled up. They also had a shell on top that was almost like an oblong cap, and they were also pretty fast. Any idea what they might be? Sorry, no pictures.
Stomotella Snails. Perfectly harmless CUC that will breed in your tank and keep it nice and clean.
Thanks for clarifying. I can always use a little extra help with keeping the place clean.
Cool little critters and they are great help in the aquarium in my opinion. There numbers typically wax and wane depending on the availability of food source and are nocturnal as you mentioned. The front glass on my 75g propagation tank has typically around 40+ of them wondering around grazing on the algae.
If you attempt to pick them up sometimes they will split themselves in half. The half under the shell will steadily walk away while the other half gets as big as possible, sticky as can be, and wiggles around as to say, “Eat me! Eat me!”. It’s fun showing people when they come over to see the tanks however the last time I tried to show someone the damn things wouldn’t do it! lol
If anyone doesn’t have any speak up. I could bring some to the next meeting if I remember.(I am sure there are others that have some to spare as well) Check your tank at night time to double check to make sure you don’t already have them though.
That sounds like an accurate depiction of these guys. I currently seem to have two crawling around. I need to get a better light to search for more.
Thanks for the offer.
Rob
flashlight and magnafing glass are a reefers spy kit
Speaking of nocturnal creatures, the other night saw what looked exactly like a snail without a shell. I never bought anything like that. What is it?
Try typing, “images stomatella snails” in google. If not it maybe a flat worm? What size? What color?
White- approx.1/2 inch.
Maybe like this?
Or maybe this?
If not try going to the links section at the top of the page and visiting the identification section.
More like the 2nd one. For sure not the first. Also, less fuzzy and more like a snail.
[quote=“Gordonious, post:8, topic:2910”]
Try typing, “images stomatella snails” in google. [/quote]
I did a google search just I recommended and both of the images above came up. One is an image from the top, the other from the bottom. Both are in the genus Stomatella. There are many little variations, but it sounds like you have the same thing 1st8Eer Reefer has and you likely just couldn’t see the shell which blends in with the rest of it’s body.(or the rest of it’s body blends in with the shell)
Less fuzzy was likely because of the resolution of your eye at a glance vs a high resolution camera. The closer you look at things the more detail you see. You can stair at your tank for many years, but never notice some of the details you’ll see when you finally buy a high res camera and start looking at images blown up on your PC.
Thanks. My vision is not great. Next time I see it on the glass I’ll have my hubby take a pic. He has a good camera.