Small Red Snail ID       9/15/16 Hi WWM crew!! I go to your site first to try to ID things and couldn't find anything on this guy. It's a small snail, almost looks like a Stomatella. It's pretty much bright red - both the shell and the foot. I found it on a yellow polyp gorgonian (Menella sp.). I thought it might be a pest but wanted to check. It's very pretty so I don't want to harm it if I don't have to! Any ideas? Photos below. It's less than 1/4 inch long and less than 1/8 wide. <Ahh; I do think this IS a Stomatella (sp.). They do occur in varying colors, markings... yours has likely been eating a good deal of something that bears red pigment. I would keep this animal> Thanks, Rachel Fogle <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Re: Small Red Snail ID       9/15/16 Awesome!! Thank you, Bob! I'm definitely keeping him :) <Yay!> Rachel Fogle <BobF> <corr.> Small Red Snail ID: Ovulid- 9/15/16 Hi WWM crew!! <Hey Rachel!> I go to your site first to try to ID things and couldn't find anything on this guy. It's a small snail, almost looks like a Stomatella. It's pretty much bright red - both the shell and the foot. <Yep, it’s a pretty little thing.> I found it on a yellow polyp gorgonian (Menella sp.). <Yep, these guys love ‘em.> I thought it might be a pest but wanted to check. It's very pretty so I don't want to harm it if I don't have to! Any ideas? <I’m sorry to say that although it does look like a Stomatellid, and it’s undoubtedly pretty, it’s a pest (at least as far as the gorgonian is concerned!). It’s an Ovulid, (family Ovulidae), a group of predatory snails similar to cowries, that feeds on gorgonians (sea whips and fans). These snails have an interesting two-fold defense strategy thanks to a soft mantle typically extended over the shell. On the one hand, it can mimic the color and texture of its prey to a surprising degree, while on the other hand, the bright colors warn predators to stay away. The mantle retains some of the noxious chemicals from whatever soft coral the snail preys upon. Bottom line – this an interesting little beauty, but I would remove it, along with any others that appear. Please see the following links for more information: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gastropo.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/Ovulids/OvulidsF1.htm  > Photos below. It's less than 1/4 inch long and less than 1/8 wide. <Thanks> Thanks, <You’re very welcome; I’m just sorry to be the bearer of bad news!> Rachel Fogle <Take care, Lynn Zurik> Yeeikes! Thank you Lynn. I mis-ID'd this as Stomatella sp.!!! BobF       9/16/16 Snail Query - Ovulid Hi Bob, I am so sorry that I didn't get to the snail query until today. <Ahh! I'd sent a bad ID on thinking we/I'd missed you. B> Re: Small Red Snail ID - Ovulid - 9/15/16 Thank you, Lynn! <You are most welcome!> I'll get rid of him. I'm sure my gorgonians will appreciate it. <Oh yes, indeed!> Rachel <Take care, Lynn> Re: Small Red Snail ID      9/16/16 Ha!!! I liked your ID better, Bob <Heeee! Me too! B> Rachel

Cowry id. If possible      2/24/15 Hi I've got a little hitch hiker i believe its an allied cowry but cant seem to find any info about being reef safe and wondered if you would be able to shed some light on the subject.. Thanx <Does appear to be a Pseudosimnia sinensis; do eat Nephtheids...; soft corals. Bob Fenner> Re: Cowry id. If possible      2/24/15 Thank you very much <Ah, welcome. BobF>

little cowry?– 6/24/13 I found this guy clinging to my carnation coral. <Neat!>  Was wondering what he is and if he is a good hitchhiker or not. Please let me know what you think. He has an awesome orange and white shell. <Mmm, how large is this animal? This looks to be a Stomatella varia; nocturnal algae grazers. Bob Fenner>

Re: little cowry?– 6/24/13 Hello again, <Annie> It is about the size of a pea. I have quite a few Stomatellas, but this one has a full shell and not just a cap and also the underside of his shell looks like a cowry shell (has the slit with ridges along the sides). <Mmm, well... this could be a juvenile Leviathan cowry... we'll have to wait and see as it grows! BobF> Re: little cowry? Are there any snails that have this coloring that are related to the bumble bee snails? Upon closer inspection the shell is shaped like that more than a cowry I think? Thanks! Andrea <<Sending to LynnZ...>> Re: little cowry?– 6/24/13 Thanks Bob - I'm on it! Take care, Lynn <Thank you Lynn. BobF> Little Cowry? Probable Predatory Ovulid – 6/24/13 <Hello, Lynn here this evening.> I found this guy clinging to my carnation coral. <That’s a great bit of information, thanks.> Was wondering what he is and if he is a good hitchhiker or not. <If it’s what I think it is, it’s not, at least as far as your Dendronephthya/carnation coral is concerned.> Please let me know what you think. <I would love to see a detailed photo of this little fellow (one from above, one from below), but I suspect that it’s a Dendronephthya predator in the family Ovulidae and I would remove it asap along with any others like it.  Ovulids (Egg/“false” cowries) are similar to “true” cowries (family Cypraeidae) in appearance and are predators of cnidarians (some specializing in Dendronephthya spp.). Judging by what I can see of your individual’s shell and foot, it appears to be something in the subfamily Prionovolvinae, which includes a number of genera.  Unfortunately, these snails can vary to a surprising degree in shell and mantle coloration within each species, so identification can be a challenge.  If you wish to pursue an ID (and are unable to send detailed photos) I would recommend beginning with the genus Habuprionovolva (see link below), then move on to the other genera within the subfamily (Diminovula, Prionovolva, etc.).  Please see the following links for comparison/more information: Habuprionovolva aenigma:  http://www.gastropods.com/7/Shell_10247.shtml  Subfamily Prionovolvinae photos begin about 1/3 down the page (each photo is a link to more info/photos): http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/TN_Family_OVULIDAE.shtml  Photos of live Habuprionovolva spp. with mantles extended: http://science.naturalis.nl/research/people/cv/reijnen/habuprionovolva>  He has an awesome orange and white shell. <He certainly does; cowries and Ovulids have beautifully glossy shells.  What’s interesting about these guys is the degree to which they match their host’s coloration and texture, thereby protecting themselves from predators and unsuspecting hobbyists! Oddly enough, it’s not the shell that’s key to their camouflage, it’s the extraordinary coloration and textures of the soft mantle tissue that extends up and around the sides.  This enables the animal to practically disappear along the branches of its prey.  These really are beautiful animals.  It’s just a shame that they prey on a beautiful coral that in itself can be very difficult to keep!  Please let me/us know if there's anything else I/we can do to help. Take care, Lynn Z> Re:  Little Cowry? Probable Predatory Ovulid – 6/24/13 <Hello Andrea, Lynn here again!> Are there any snails that have this coloring that are related to the bumble bee snails? Upon closer inspection the shell is shaped like that more than a cowry I think? <Do look at the Ovulids mentioned in the previous mail and see if anything there looks like what you have.  If I’m way off base, let me know and we’ll give it another try!> Thanks! <You’re very welcome!> Andrea <Take care, Lynn Z) Re:  Little Cowry? Probable Predatory Ovulid – 6/24/13 Yes, it is the first species that you sent a photo link of. <Yay!> Too bad it's a predator snail... <No kidding, it’s a shame.> Maybe I'll have to set up a pico tank for this little guy, too pretty to let die. Maybe I'll buy a few of these carnation corals and see if he'll survive. <That could get expensive, but if the coral was flourishing, perhaps one small snail wouldn’t do enough damage to kill it off entirely.> Thanks! <It was a real pleasure!> Annie <Take care and good luck! Lynn Z>

Flamingo Tongue Cowry Sorry to bother you but I have another question regarding Flamingo Tongue Snails. My supplier tells me they eat only Gorgonia and I have some in my tank.  <that is correct... and they should never be imported for this reason. Unless you have developed a technique for growing their prey gorgonians species faster that they can eat it> However, after introducing six snails and the Gorgonia all of the snails promptly wandered off the Gorgonia and seem to be grazing contentedly on algae and other food sources in the tank.  <they are definitely starving to death. This is an age old observation and problem. Just because a snail, fish, etc is eating an alternate food in captivity doesn't mean it is surviving on it. They are dying of a dietary deficiency. It may take weeks... some even hang in for months... but slow starvation is inevitable here. I am honestly deeply saddened that yet more have been imported. Were these sent along as freebies with an order of livestock from an Atlantic supplier or were they ordered deliberately?> The question is, are they going to survive or am I just being fooled and they will soon starve to death. <the latter... this has been observed by aquarists for 30 years!!!> They seem to be OK without the Gorgonia. <based on what, my friend? We cannot see that they are gaining or losing mass/muscle tissue so to speak. By virtue of the fact that they are still moving? :)> Thanks for the help. Don Tope <best regards, Anthony>
Re: Flamingo Tongue cowries Thanks for the response. I was aware of the possibilities you mention in your response but wanted to confirm my suspicions. I did not think that the mere fact of movement was proof of a satisfactory situation for the organisms, hence my query.  <understood and agreed my friend> I, like you, do not wish to waste life and that is why I asked the questions I did. Would you suggest that I keep using Gorgonia (I can try to keep it - Can obtain more if necessary).  <hmmm.. at this point it gets a bit discriminating. Some personal decisions here. We are discussing the aquarium display of one not-easily-renewable resource (captively) with another (the slow growing gorgonians). If you were studying the mollusks with a purpose (scientific report, breeding study/programs, etc) I'd feel comfortable with using the gorgonians as fodder. For a merely aesthetic display, however... I'd cut your losses early. No more snails or gorgonians. The problem is compounded by the fact that these cowries eat an aposymbiotic gorgonian that is very difficult to keep alive in captivity. And other hardy gorgonians are not eaten/accepted readily. Alas, neither the host or parasite belong in captivity with most aquarists.> Again, I do not want to waste Gorgonia if it is a virtual certainty that it cannot be kept alive and as a replenishing food source for the snails. Thanks for your attention. <exactly... with kind regards, Anthony> Don Tope

Snail and algae id Hello all( again!) For some reason  my snail pics never seemed to make it to you all- so I'll try sending them as attachments this time =P <They came through, not exactly sure what type of snail that is... perhaps an egg cowry, maybe even specifically Dentiovula dorsuosa, but hard to say for certain. More on those here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gastropo.htm > Also I am attaching a picture of something that came on my live rock. It is about 4" long, 2" tall, and has what appears to be tiny red fur like things upon it. Part is white-like a bleached coral,  and the whole thing was fairly stiff when i received it, but now is moving (swaying) with the current in the tank. <Looks like an algae of some type, possibly a Galaxaura species.> Any help would be very appreciated.   Best wishes to you all. <Cheers, J -- >

Flamingo Tongue Snail 6/31/05 Hi, Thanks for the great site.  I can't seem to find the answer to this question; hopefully you can help me out.  I found this beautiful snail yesterday. I know better than to buy with out researching, but the guy said it ate algae and I figured how much harm could a snail be ( I know- stupid me).  It looks just like the picture on your site of the spotted Cyphoma.  When you pick him up, his spots move to the inside of his shell and his back is all off-white colored. The spots come back when he calms down. He has the long black front and I'm pretty sure it is a spotted Cyphoma.  It doesn't eat algae, does it?  Is it poisonous?  The LFS won't take it back, so what should I do with it?  I currently have 2 anemones, a feather duster, a red general starfish, 5 (other) snails, a magenta Dottyback, a velvet damsel, an orange tail damsel, three zebra damsels, a blue damsel, a reef hermit, and a yellow-eye tang (plus about lbs. of live rock).  Will this new snail hurt any of them?  If it doesn't eat algae, what does it eat and where do I get it?  I know I brought this on myself, but I would appreciate any input you could offer.  For my own curiosity, why do his spots move?   Thanks, Stacy <Stacy, I can see why the dealer wouldn't take it back. I'm sure what you have is a Flamingo Tongue Snail.  It won't live long unless you have deep pockets to feed it a diet of gorgonians. I would question the dealer as to why he is selling something like this that won't live.  James (Salty Dog)>

Flamingo Tongue Cowry Sorry to bother you but I have another question regarding Flamingo Tongue Snails. My supplier tells me they eat only Gorgonia and I have some in my tank.  <that is correct... and they should never be imported for this reason. Unless you have developed a technique for growing their prey gorgonians species faster that they can eat it> However, after introducing six snails and the Gorgonia all of the snails promptly wandered off the Gorgonia and seem to be grazing contentedly on algae and other food sources in the tank.  <they are definitely starving to death. This is an age old observation and problem. Just because a snail, fish, etc is eating an alternate food in captivity doesn't mean it is surviving on it. They are dying of a dietary deficiency. It may take weeks... some even hang in for months... but slow starvation is inevitable here. I am honestly deeply saddened that yet more have been imported. Were these sent along as freebies with an order of livestock from an Atlantic supplier or were they ordered deliberately?> The question is, are they going to survive or am I just being fooled and they will soon starve to death. <the latter... this has been observed by aquarists for 30 years!!!> They seem to be OK without the Gorgonia. <based on what, my friend? We cannot see that they are gaining or losing mass/muscle tissue so to speak. By virtue of the fact that they are still moving? :)> Thanks for the help. Don Tope <best regards, Anthony>
Re: Flamingo Tongue cowries Thanks for the response. I was aware of the possibilities you mention in your response but wanted to confirm my suspicions. I did not think that the mere fact of movement was proof of a satisfactory situation for the organisms, hence my query.  <understood and agreed my friend> I, like you, do not wish to waste life and that is why I asked the questions I did. Would you suggest that I keep using Gorgonia (I can try to keep it - Can obtain more if necessary).  <hmmm.. at this point it gets a bit discriminating. Some personal decisions here. We are discussing the aquarium display of one not-easily-renewable resource (captively) with another (the slow growing gorgonians). If you were studying the mollusks with a purpose (scientific report, breeding study/programs, etc) I'd feel comfortable with using the gorgonians as fodder. For a merely aesthetic display, however... I'd cut your losses early. No more snails or gorgonians. The problem is compounded by the fact that these cowries eat an aposymbiotic gorgonian that is very difficult to keep alive in captivity. And other hardy gorgonians are not eaten/accepted readily. Alas, neither the host or parasite belong in captivity with most aquarists.> Again, I do not want to waste Gorgonia if it is a virtual certainty that it cannot be kept alive and as a replenishing food source for the snails. Thanks for your attention. <exactly... with kind regards, Anthony> Don Tope