[zhenya]

Hello everyone,

I have a large snail in my 75g tank Scutus sp. (2.5-3") that I think is in troble I've found it tonight laying on it's back with some sort of stuff coming out of it arround the head area(behind the head actually).Looks like a stuffing from a pillow if you know what I mean,or steelwool and sort of light green in color.Hard to tell as it was dark and flashlight is not giving me the right perspective. I have a pic but quality is poor due to darkness. My question is,can anyone point me to a info source on their reproductive activities,I've checked the slugforum and it don't have much.
Here is a pic of the snail for reference.
TIA.

[zhenya]

Here is what I've found tonight after the lights went off...

[Uel]

Hi Gene,

That is a Limpet. They are noctural. My lfs says they will eat coralline algae, but I have not noticed any problems in my tanks. I have several in my sump, but have yet to see any in my tank. I'm sure they are there if they are in the sump. They probably came in on some live rock. They appear to multiply rather quickly.

I don't think it is anything to be concerned about. I have seen several posts on other sites and noone reports any problems with them.

Dr. Ron has a little blurb about them on his site:
http://www.rshimek.com/odd_critters....eshy%20Limpets

Uel

[zhenya]

Hi Uel
Thanks for replying. I was not worrying about this limpet as far as his eating habits.It was a peaceful algae grazer.I was rather worried about his condition and i was right to worry becouse he did die overnight I had him for almost a year and found him to be quite neat critter and he grew quite large in my tank. I think I have more snails and chitons then corals in this tank and I like this balance I was very upset when I discovered him in this state and just could not find any information about how long they live or how they reproduce,quite sad really.I spend half the night surfing all sort of sites and lerned alot,just not what I needed.Dr.Ron did however told me that they do try to spawn one last time just before they die,this species atleast.I do understand that none of the eggs will ever develop or do anything but provide food for all.I'm not even sure it was eggs as I could not get to it in time to take it out at night.I did this morning after taking some rocks out it was a mess.Well,here is the pic of him and a little that's left of the stuff that was coming out,if you interested ofcourse. It's right behind the eye stalks and light green in color.
Man,I hate loosing anything,even snails,especially a nice one like this

[zhenya]

Uel,

Forgot to add,that this limpets of the order of Vetigasrtopoda and family Fussirillidae and I dont think they're coralline algae eaters but rather detrivors and some are algae grazers. I'm not sure if your lfs was correct or not and perhaps some do graze on coralline(wich is not always a bad thing IMO ),it's just that mine did not and only grazed the diatom type algae on glass and rockwork.I true reef helper if you ask me and I was sad to see him in this stage.Can not figure out what stressed him or why it died so suddenly,I just watch it glide gracefully over the glass the night before.

[Uel]

Hi Gene,

Sorry about the loss.

I agree with you that they are not harmful. There is probably some form of limpet that is less desirable. Some snails that munch on coralline seem to help spread it. Of course neither of these comments is based on scientific evidence, but just years of hobby observation.

Uel

[zhenya]

Originally posted by Uel
Hi Gene,

Sorry about the loss.

I agree with you that they are not harmful. There is probably some form of limpet that is less desirable. Some snails that munch on coralline seem to help spread it. Of course neither of these comments is based on scientific evidence, but just years of hobby observation.

Uel

Hi Uel,

One of the less disirable limpets would be a keyhole limpet I think and I agree on the coralline spreading through grazing,anecdotal or not I did found some books available about this order of mollusks written by Dr. McLean and i think I'm going to invest in buying what I can afford

[Wrassman]

Hey all,

Sorry about your loss, zhenya.

I have many limpets (not as pretty as yours) that are good algae grazers. They don't munch on coralline algae, at all. I think they are rather sensitive to changes in pH and alkalinity (JMO).

Nassarius snails eat coralline algae, but this is a good thing. As they eat it, they spread it. I have several nassarius in my tank now, and have seen them eating the coralline off my glass (which makes me very happy). I have also noticed that where the snails have been "going" is now becoming covered in coralline. So, I am happy that the nassarius are eating the coralline, they seem to be spreading it.

[zhenya]

Thanks Wrassman! I'm sorry too limpets are cool

Anyhow,those nassarious snails/whelks are detrivores,aren't they? I have lots of them as well but never really checked what they eat(they're mostly under my sand ) I will check though and see what the heck they're up to. Thanks for sharing that information about them