[ReeferSD]

Hello, ive got some snails that have started growing and dont know what they are. They have no obvious shell on them, they are really flat, some up to an inch long. they all seem to have a red spot in the bottom right hand side of thier backs. I have seen them spawn many times now, they stand up on thier foot and open up thier bottom side releasing thousands of eggs into the tank. Just today i saw one that was releasing clouds of white stuff, sperm i think, from a tube by its head. I have seen all of this about a 1/2 a dozen times. its really cool to see but now there are tons of little baby ones everywhere. They are all sorts of colors too. some have all black foots and are gold colored while others have white foots and are green. But they all still have the red spot. They can climb on glass. i will post pics asap but for now im stranded at the library. thanks.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by ReeferSD

Hello, ive got some snails that have started growing and dont know what they are. They have no obvious shell on them, they are really flat, some up to an inch long. they all seem to have a red spot in the bottom right hand side of thier backs. I have seen them spawn many times now, they stand up on thier foot and open up thier bottom side releasing thousands of eggs into the tank. Just today i saw one that was releasing clouds of white stuff, sperm i think, from a tube by its head. I have seen all of this about a 1/2 a dozen times. its really cool to see but now there are tons of little baby ones everywhere. They are all sorts of colors too. some have all black foots and are gold colored while others have white foots and are green. But they all still have the red spot. They can climb on glass. i will post pics asap but for now im stranded at the library. thanks.

Do some search on snails called Stomatella varia. I think this is what you may have, judging from your description of their reproductive method. IIRC, the S.varia snails are broadcast spawners.

Found a picture for you to look at and confirm that this what you are seen in your tank.
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/91752-post5.html

If it is Stomatella varia, you can find more information about them by scrolling down a bit in this article

HTH.

PS. By the way, if you look closely, they do have shell that looks like a cap( they are commonly called cap snails as well).

[kevinpo]

Also called Reef Bunnies due to their reproductive skills

Kevin

[ReeferSD]

Thanks for the info. The pictures somewhat resemble what i have. I have also noticed that on the sides of the snail there are pairs of tentacles(SP?) that run down both sides. Some of the snails that have grown recently have the most amazing gold color to them that none of the snails that spawn have. I have a fridmani psuedochromis that eats up the baby snails but it wont touch the snails with the tentacle things. can the snails be of harm to anything in the tank? I finally got a camera and will post pics asap

[zhenya]

can the snails be of harm to anything in the tank? I finally got a camera and will post pics asap

We await your images to see if we can identify this snail for you. If it is a Stomatella varia, it is absolutely harmless and actually beneficial to your system. It is a herbivorous snail that presents no danger to any of the tank inhabitants, unless you are algae, of course.