SnailIDF13

FAQs about Marine Snail Identification 13

Related Articles: Gastropods, Sea Slugs, Mollusks, Abalone,

Snail Id's: Babylon and possible Limpet - 12/6/07 Hi Crew, <Hi Russ> Great site you've got going on here, <On behalf of Bob and everyone here, I thank you!> and, as you people seem to be the font of all marine knowledge, I'm here to ask a couple of (hopefully not too dumb) questions about some snails I've got. <Heee, no worries there my friend - ask away!> First up, I bought some Astreas from the LFS the other day (they were sold as Turbos, but as they can't self right, I'm guessing I have been had), and a couple of 'Nassarius'. <Unfortunate. The incorrect labeling was most likely unintentional, but it serves as a reminder for all of us to confirm exactly what we're getting before bringing it home. Thankfully, most stores offer a selection of books that can aid in this. If they don't, and you're the least bit unsure, don't buy. LOL Just step away from that tank! The best thing to do is go home, figure out what it is and whether you can provide for its needs. Just doing this one thing could save many, many, lives, and so much frustration! Okay, I'm stepping off my soap box -- for now, anyway! ;-)> One of the Astreas had a 'growth' on its shell, which I noticed was moving, so I pulled it off to discover it was a snail of some sort, and was wondering if you could ID it - the photos show it in situ on the snail, and then on the glass. Its got a real odd shaped shell. <<snail1.jpg>> > > <<snail2.jpg>> <Unfortunately, I can't see the shell well enough to Id. My first thought was that it might be a Nerite, but the shot taken from underneath indicates otherwise. The margin shouldn't be sharp like that all the way around. One end of the shell should be curled/extending underneath. Without additional photos (top view and any view that would show whorls/lack of, etc), I'm going to guess that it's a species of limpet. Not all have the classically pointed cone shape.> Secondly, I'd like to ask if you could ID what I believed to be Nassarius <Is similar, but not in same genus.> - they are beautiful <Indeed!> but I can't find a reference to anything like them on the web. They do live under the substrate and show only their siphon, but it seems they may be a bit on the large side for Nassarius vibex - any ideas would be gratefully accepted. <The color pattern, and the deep suture along the whorl, give it away. Its common name is a Babylon shell (genus Babylonia), and depending on where you look, is either in the family Babyloniidae or the family Buccinidae. Taxonomic flux/synonyms drive me nuts! I won't even go into it here because it would take up way too much space, but suffice it to say that this little guy is grouped in with whelks (predatory/scavenging snails) and I wouldn't trust it. Please see these links for comparison/related info: http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/TN_Family_BABYLONIIDAE.html http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/rs/index.php > What would you recommend in terms of keeping or returning these?> > <<snail3.jpg>> <Need to know what other inhabitants are in the tank/conditions therein. If you have a full blown, mature, reef tank, the Astreas should be okay with enough available food (just keep an eye on them). As for the limpet (tentative Id), it could go either way. Some are harmless/innocuous grazers, while others are capable of putting a serious dent in your coralline, or even your corals! Not too long ago, I caught one on my favorite Blastomussa wellsi! Last, but not least, the Babylonia spp. Of the three snails, this would be my biggest concern. Not only, because of its possible predatory nature, but because I can't find any information on its needs. For example, it might not even be suitable for the warmer temperatures of our reef tanks. It's not unusual to see snails sold online/locally that are from more temperate regions. Snails such as this live an accelerated life - surviving for a brief period, then dying. Hopefully, that is not the case here, but I honestly don't know. I think it comes down to what Dirty Harry said: 'Are you feeling lucky?'. Personally, I don't like the odds. That snail would have to go!> Many thanks for your help <You're very welcome.> Russ (Sheffield, UK) - resent with capitalized 'I's :-) <Much appreciated :-) Take care -Lynn (Seattle, USA)

Nuisance Snail: Coralline Eating Limpets! -- 12/6/07 <Hi there!> I have been researching your website and I cannot seem to locate my answer. I am looking for the name of a nuisance snail that eats coralline algae. <Das ist Limpet! Ever see the movie with Don Knotts? Never mind, I'm showing my age!> I have at least 50 or 60, maybe more of these very tiny snails with a very tiny cone shape eating away at coralline algae on the glass of my tank. <Yowza!> While I appreciate the glass cleaning, I am afraid my rocks and corals may be next. <Understandable. Limpets can be voracious/full time grazers, and some species can/do eat coralline. I would reduce their numbers by scraping them off the glass with an appropriate algae scraper/razor blade and suctioning them out. Limpets can be rather difficult to remove (hence the term 'Clings like a limpet.'), but since these are apparently very small, it should go a little easier. By the way, if you have an acrylic tank, I would instead recommend using something like an old credit card (or an existing one if you want to put it to its best use!) Good luck and take care --Lynn>

Black Slug... actually is a snail... Scutus spp 12/03/2007 I found this in my tank and thought I would share the photo. <Thank you for sharing!> I did some research and found the slug to be (Scutus sp.) <Actually is a snail, not a slug.> Order: VETIGASTROPODA Superfamily: FISSURELLOIDEA Family: Fissurellidae. <Yes, more here: http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=scutus > Our slug is about 2 1/2 inches and may grow to 5 inches in length. This is a nocturnal slug and I found it by mistake a few weeks back. <Well you found it nonetheless.> Just wanted to share. <Thanks again!> Have a great day, Lis
<Thanks Lis, you as well! Mich>

Well done Mich/Mitch... RMF.

Can you ID this snail 'The good, The Bad and The Ugly!! 11/30/07 Hello Bob and WWM Crew, <Hello Jerry, Mich here, apologizing for the long delay... This ID has really got me stumped, and I have been very stubborn in not wanting to give up.> Just found a few of these guys in my tank, they only come out at night. The body of this snail is a bright, bright red. The shell is a white/tan with brown to black markings. Almost looks like a tiny Conch shell. Really tiny about half a thumbnail. <Yes, the shell appears very conch-like.> I have also recently found a row of snail eggs in a hard transparent bubble casing on my glass. If these guys are the bad guys, I want to start picking and remove the eggs if it's from them. I was hoping they were from my Turbos, but then I found these guys.. <OK> Sorry for the photo being so bad. I will send another right behind it, maybe a side view. Thanks, <Welcome, Mich> Jerry

Snail ID...The Good the Bad the Ugly follow up, Maybe Tulip Snail? 11/30/2007 Hello Bob and WWM Crew, <Hello Jerry, Mich with you again, frustrated that I am not able to help you more.> After another day of reading on your website...I think it may be a Tulip Snail. <To me the shell does not generally look consistent with a Tulip snail. Most of the Tulip snail shells that I have seen are rather smooth. Of any tulips sail shells I've seen, the shell resembles that of Fasciolaria lignaria but I'm not finding much information and have been unable to even find an image of a living snail of this species.> I finally found a pic that looks like the snail I have. Would you agree? <The pictures look consistent with what you sent, but wish you had sent the link to the website where you found this. I have been unable to find anything that I feel is a match.> Sorry for the previous photos being so blurry. <Look for a Macro feature on your camera, it will help you get focused close up shots.> The female laid another batch of eggs on the glass, if I scrape them off and some were to fall, would they have the ability to hatch later? <Likely so.> The casings are very hard, transparent and really attached, so scraping seems to be my only alternative. The critters inside are getting bigger and I would hate for an infestation. <Yes and some Tulip snails are predatory. So it would be good to determine it this ID is correct.> (there are maybe 10 per sac and maybe 20 sacs on the glass). Bummer, my son and I were really looking forward to watching them hatch. <Sorry.> Any suggestion for removal, without spreading them around the tank? <Likely manual removal, with a siphon hose close behind to remove any strays would be best.> Attached are the Eggs and the photo I found on your site of the snail.. <ARGH! I can't even find this image on our website. I am so sorry that I have not been much help with this query. You sure have me stumped. Thanks, Jerry

Snail ID...The Good the Bad the Ugly follow up, Maybe Tulip Snail? 12/03/2007 Hey Mitch, <Hi Jerry, Mich with you again.> Thanks for the response.. <Welcome!> I figured because of the Thanksgiving holiday you guys probably had an overload of catch-up!! <Yeeaah... I'll go with that...> Anyways I did some more research and I think I have our guy!! I am sure you have it just a little bit harder considering the blurry photos.. <They were a bit fuzzy...> and thanks for the macros idea on the camera I will try that the next time!! <Please do.> Here is a link and I just chased it wherever it took me.. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php I believe it is a Columbellids.. <Well my fellow crewmember Brenda gave me this link before I sent out my response: http://www.projectdibs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29 But I thought the shell looked to smooth compared to the pics you sent. I never saw anything hat I felt was a good match. But when this was posted on the daily page RMF commented that he thought it was a tulip snail.> With your eye do you think it's a match? <Is very hard to tell with the fuzzy pics.> I was just never able to find out if it has a red body or not? Anyways thanks for all your help, <Welcome, but don't feel I was much help here.> Can you imagine what all the tanks would look like, if guys <and gals> like you at Wet Web Media were not around and we were only left to the LFS advice!!! <Well there are some very knowledgeable LFS and there are some that aren't...> Thanks <Welcome again, Mich>
Jerry

A tulip...

ID help for others... Sundial snail (Heliacus sp.) 11/25/2007 Hi Crew, Chris here again. <Hi Chris, Mich with you tonight.> I believe I have ID'ed this as a sundial snail from what I've seen on the ID pages. <Does look to be so, but the pagoda shaped operculum (trap door) would really confirm this as a Sundial snail (Heliacus sp.)> I just wanted to send these pictures to help others as I did not find any pictures as clear as these anywhere in the FAQ pages. <Thank you for sharing. Always appreciated. Mich>

Re: ID help for others... Sundial snail (Heliacus sp.) 11/25/2007 I was thinking that the picture attached showed the pagoda trap door. <You are correct. This picture shows the white pagoda/cone shaped trap door (operculum) quite well.> If not please let me know. <No, you are right. I see you included this pic in your first email, but somehow I only saw the other image. My apologies.> I'm trying to learn as much as possible about as much as possible as fast as possible. <You appear to be well on your way.
Cheers,
Mich>

Question about a Snail? -baby Scutus? 11/11/07 Hi Bob and team, <Hi, Sara here tonight/morning-- whatever it is now. lol> I know people say it all the time, but you guys run a great site. It's been very helpful for me as I'm new to the whole saltwater experience, but so far things have gone well. <fabulous> Have learned some lessons the hard way, but those are mistakes you won't make again any time soon, and luckily my losses are minimal with a 15 gallon tank. Onto the question. I recently got some more corals for the tank and on one of the rocks was a hitchhiker. I picked it off and watched it for a while. At first I thought it was a slug, and then after some reading have settled on the fact that it's most likely a snail. It's characteristics are as follows (for anyone else searching the way I do) - All Black with a white under belly - Two prominent tentacles near the head - Weird to explain it this way, but it kind of looks like a cracked egg. The yolk is really a black shell, which is raised higher than the rest of the body, and then has a more flat "egg white" around its body (also black). - A bit smaller than an eraser head From reading through your site and others I can find only two possible identifications for it: a Scutus, or a Black Stomatella Snail <bingo>. If it's a Scutus it's supposed to have a white mantel, which I can't see but it comes closest to what I have seen online, and it's the one I'm leaning towards. <Initially after seeing the picture, this is what I thought too. However, the Scutus have white/off-white shells which are veiled in black tissue. The shell of the Scutus is "buried" under thin black tissue over the top of the snail. If the shell of your little dude is exposed and black, that makes me think it's a Stomatella. So, are you sure the shell itself is black? or is there a white shell under the black? If it's a Scutus, it will show the under lying white shell if you just gently poke its back. In any case, please do cherish him/her. Both types of gastropods are excellent aquarium animals and also really cute (in my opinion).> It looks similar to <http://rfbolland.com/okislugs/scutungu.html> http://rfbolland.com/okislugs/scutungu.html There is no sense on how big that one is. I have also attached a picture. But probably isn't good enough for a formal ID (All new aquariums should come with manual focus cameras). As far as the idea of it being a Black Stomatella, I couldn't find any pictures online and very little info, so I'm thinking it's probably less correct. My big question (of course) is should I put it into my tank? <absolutely> Last think I want is something eating up my corals, but if it's a Scutus it's an algae eater then it should be safe. Your thoughts? <Well, I'm probably about 98% sure it's a Stomatella or Scutus, but I can't honestly commit to one or the other from your picture. If you get a better shot of him, feel free/encouraged to send this in. :-)> Thanks Mike <Best, Sara M.>

Question About a Snail? ...Scutus sp. Mich's go 11/11/07 Hi Bob and team, <Hi Mike, Mich here.> I know people say it all the time, but you guys run a great site. <Thank you for these kind words.> It's been very helpful for me as I'm new to the whole saltwater experience, but so far things have gone well'¦ <Glad to hear.> have learned some lessons the hard way, but those are mistakes you won't make again any time soon, <Often we can learn from others mistakes, but sometimes we have to experience things for ourselves.> and luckily my losses are minimal with a 15-gallon tank. <Tis good.> Onto the question. I recently got some more corals for the tank and on one of the rocks was a hitchhiker. I picked it off and watched it for a while. At first I thought it was a slug, and then after some reading have settled on the fact that it's most likely a snail. Its characteristics are as follows (for anyone else searching the way I do) - All Black with a white under belly - Two prominent tentacles near the head - Weird to explain it this way, but it kind of looks like a cracked egg. The yolk is really a black shell, which is raised higher than the rest of the body, and then has a more flat 'egg white' around its body (also black). - A bit smaller than an eraser head <Ok.> I have seen two descriptions for this. First, some say it is a Scutus, but someone else indicated it could be a Black Stomatella Snail. If it's a Scutus it's supposed to have a white mantel, which I can't see <Is usually hidden under a flap of skin so may be difficult to view.> but it comes closest to what I have seen online, and it's the one I'm leaning towards. It looks similar to http://rfbolland.com/okislugs/scutungu.html I think, but there is no sense on how big that one is. <Text below the image says 43 mm> I have also attached a picture 'but probably isn't good enough for a formal ID. <Mmm, is a bit blurry... Do you have Macro feature on your camera? (The symbol often resembles a flower) Using this feature will allow you to get a clearer, close up shot.> Hoping that I get a new camera, SLR, with manual focus so I can take pics of my tank. <Know the feeling, am longing for a DSLR myself.> As far as the Black Stomatella goes. I couldn't find any pictures online and very little info, so I'm thinking it's probably less correct. <Me too. I have never seen a Stomatella that was this dark... that's not to say they can't be... just speaking from personal experience here.> My big question (of course) is should I put it into my tank? <If it were me/mine. I would.> Last think I want is something eating up my corals, but if it's a Scutus it's an algae eater so less worry. Your thoughts? Thanks
<Welcome! Mich>
Mike

Worms!!! Help!!! 10/27/07 Hello, I'm having a huge problem with a tube worm "tubiculous Polychaete"? <That's actually not an animal name. It's an adjective put before a descriptive noun. Basically, it's just a fancy way of saying "tube worm."> It started out as two that where in my tank for a couple years. They were really cool at first, never multiplied or disturbed anything, just cast a silk line out every now and then and would reel in various things that floated by.? <They sound like Vermetid snails. They're actually not worms. Please see here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php> Suddenly, after all this time, they have started multiplying exponentially. I've literally got hundred of them and there silk is bothering corals and making the tank look nasty. <They're probably not bothering the corals, but they can be aesthetically unpleasing.> To top it off, the tubes they make are sharp and I've cut myself several times on them. Do these things have any natural predators that I can put in the tank, or is there some other way to get rid of them? <I don't think they have any predators you could keep in an aquarium. But these things usually go through booms and busts. They'll likely start to die down eventually on their own. There are some desperate measures you could take (involving things like NaOH), but if I were you, I'd just make my peace with them for now and hope they go away eventually.> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all the great info! Will <De nada, Sara M.>

Re: was ID, now Vermetid snails hurting corals? -- 10/28/07 Sara M., Thank you for helping me put an name to my plague. After doing some research, I found some pics of Vermetid snails and that is definitely what they are. I also found a study on their effects on corals in the wild and it stated that they can reduce growth of some corals by up to 90% (http://eco.confex.com/eco/2007/techprogram/P7313.HTM). <Very interesting! Thank you. However, the researchers only looked small polyped stony corals. And even among those, they noted that there was a great difference in how much the snails apparently effected each of the different types of corals. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that these snails would have the same effect on other corals. Also, I'm curious to know more about the details of the research (i.e. did they study just one type of Vermetid snail or all types?). There is a great variety of Vermetid snails on reefs. For one thing, some are quite large while some are really small. This study is certainly thought provoking, and I thank you for finding and sharing it. However, I wouldn't read too much into it at this point.> I found another site that said that some Copperbanded butterflies will eat them. Do these fish pose any threat to desirable corals?? <Butterfly fish aren't generally considered "reef safe." There's no guarantee they would prefer the Vermetid worms to your soft corals. Please see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BFsBestWrst.htm> Right now all I have is Zoanthids, xenia, and mushrooms. <As mentioned, I wouldn't assume that the study results apply to soft corals.> Thanks again! Will <De nada, Sara M.>

What is this?- maybe a limpet 10/14/07 Hello: Once again I am enlisting your help to identify a new creature on my LR. At first I thought it was part of the rock, but then it kept moving! I have not picked it up or touch it. I thought it may be sensitive and didn't want to ruin what seems to be a happy creature. He has been there for a several weeks, just moving around the rock, never leaving. Any thoughts? <It's hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like a limpet. I would have thought Hipponix imbricatus until you said it moves. Some limpets eat benthic organisms (which is bad). But it probably depends on the species.> Thanks,
Matt
Sara M.>

Thrummm!

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