Can you ID this hitchhiker??

[Graf-X]

Can anyone ID this hitchhiker? I have about 6 of them that hitchhiked in on aquacultured gulf LR. They are the color of the pinkish coraline, are about and 1"-1.5" long, and seem to herbivorous...I hope they are not eating my coraline...Some type of sea slug possibly?

[scubadude]

Looks like a chiton, they eat all types of algae I believe even coralline, but they are generally harmless and graze in the SB or on the bottom of rocks. My personal experience is that they dont eat enough coralline to make that big of a difference if they do eat it. I think they can be beneficial to most systems

[Graf-X]

I thought chitons had a siphon on the top..no siphon on this guy. This guy has no protective "shell" either...

[scubadude]

Originally posted by Graf-X
I thought chitons had a siphon on the top..no siphon on this guy. This guy has no protective "shell" either...

I think you are thinking of keyhole limpets....chitons do not have a siphon on the top....they do have an armadillo looking shell which yours appears to have....Im 99.9% sure its a chiton

[scubadude]

Chiton

Well tell ya what...just check out www.chitons.com for some pics :P

and here is a few pics of some keyhole limpets

[Graf-X]

Thanks scubadude!
You cleared it up for me. I also have a dozen or so limpets (like the ones in your picture) are they ok in my tank? btw...Nice picture of the chiton...what type of camera are you using?

[scubadude]

Originally posted by Graf-X
Thanks scubadude!
You cleared it up for me. I also have a dozen or so limpets (like the ones in your picture) are they ok in my tank? btw...Nice picture of the chiton...what type of camera are you using?

NP!

I have a couple of keyhole limpets in my tank too....and have witnessed one of them near my pink pocillapora, and I banned him to the refugium. Others have witnessed keyhole limpets munching on SPS. I think keyhole limpets are probably more of a concern than chitons....just keep an eye on them....remember these animals add biodiversity to your tank....they may eat something you dont want them to eat but then again they may eat 20 things that are a problem (like pesky algaes) The pictures are taken off of the web....not by me :P