Re: what is it?   11/15/06 Dear "crew", Ok, I'll look up some pictures of a Stomatella. I have never heard of those, a few more FAQs on Stomatella's would be great. It does have a shell. The little creature showed up again last night and I reached in to touch him and there is a hard shell on his back. Shannon <Mmm, use your search tool/s on/off WWM with the genus name... Plenty there. Bob Fenner>

Re: Re: what is it?   11/15/06 Thank you for heading me in the right direction. After doing some more research on a Stomatella, I am 100% sure I have a  Stomatellid. However, I am a bit concerned because the posting that lead me to this critters name was about how they had over run a tank. Is this a problem I should be concerned about? <Mmm, highly unlikely> Since I have one, are there probably more that came in with the live rock. How big will he become? <Not too large... not a problem> It seems otherwise he will be a good cleaner for the tank and I should just let him go about his business. Your thoughts and any other facts on Stomatellids would be appreciated. Thank you, Shannon <Mmm, the Net... Bob Fenner>

Bright green snail  10/26/06 Hi I have a 33 gal tank with 4 seahorses and just found a pea sized very green snail on my plant on live rock. The shell and body are same colour. Is it harmful to seahorses or plants? <Mmm, highly unlikely> Thanks so much if you can help me out, I searched the web and can't find info on it. Johanne <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Small white snails in marine tank  - 08/26/06 I am new to your site but I see others have written about this topic but cannot locate the answer.  I have about 50 small white snails on the glass of my 55 gal fish only tank with live rock. Size of a pinhead.  Are they harmful?  How can I get rid of them?  Will my starfish or other snails eat these?  Source of these pests?  Thanks. Lynne <<Lynne:  It's hard to help you without a picture.  However, the most common small snails would be either Collonistas (harmless) or pyramid (parasites to either other snails or clams) snails.  Do a search and see if you can confirm what you have.  A six line wrasse will eat small snails.  Best of luck, Roy>>

Goodbye Blastomussa   8/22/06 Bob, Anthony, crew: Hope you are all well. Been a while, all has been good.  But you know, rarely do we mail you when things are currently good :).  Although I have sent along some thank yous over the last year... Anyhoo, one day, my small colony of blue zoo's 'poof' seemed to vanish.  A couple days later, my 14 head ruby/silver Blasto colony appeared to be down to skeletal stages on about 7 polyps and fringes of others. <Bizarre... frightening> I scooped it out to check and something launched (not exaggerating) off the rock, landed on another rock and did a 'I have squished myself into a small blob and now you don't see me', so there - maneuver. <Mmmm> Well, I did see it.  And sucked it up in a baster.  Now it lives in a Tupperware.  It looks like a whitish slug, about the size of a nickel, with a somewhat darker top.  Moves rather fast.  Multiple sensory tentacles (appx 4, frontal).  I am trying to get a clear pic but it is bland, small and my camera is not the best. I have researched on the site as well as the slug forum.  Nothing.  Any ideas or a genus or something to point me in the right direction?  Am I looking for the Blasto/zoo eater in the wrong place and should return the goober to the tank? Thanks much, best to you all Bill (Tirion) <... need more to go on... Could be a fast-moving mollusk of some sort... Perhaps a Notaspidean... that seemed to "jump"... Please send along the pix... Bob Fenner> Re: Goodbye Blastomussa   8/22/06 Crew; Strike some of that.  It has turned more darkish on top and I never touched it previously (never be too careful)..  However, I have found that it has a thin shell like top but is still very flattish.  Very fast mover.  Almost whelk like in speed and movement.  Mouth has no visible barbs or rasps.  Still no good pic.  Thank you. <Still no good guess. Bob Fenner>

Re: Goodbye Blastomussa   8/23/06 Bob, Crew. I might have caused a ruckus over nothing.  I now believe this is a largish Stomatella. <Ah ha!>   Had never seen one this size prior, mostly smaller in refugiums and 'dingy' with that environment.  Testing in my zoo frag tank :) <Do keep your eyes peeled for others... Bob Fenner>  

Unknown snail...   7/24/06 To the WWM Crew,             Thank you for making such a great and informative site.  I recently noticed two snails in my 55 gallon reef tank that must have hitch-hiked their way in.  I could not get a decent photograph due to their size; about 1/8 of an inch.  I became concerned with them when I noticed things starting to disappear, and/or end up dead.  I have a very bare stock level for the take, and all my levels are at zero.  There was absolutely no reason for the deaths to occur from what I know of.  So far it was a healthy Coral Beauty, and a large Peppermint Shrimp.  The most aggressive thing in my tank that I purposely put there is my Thai Damsel.  Well, these snails looked peculiar because they had a very large proboscis extending from the shell, which is always waving around the tank.  They have a long shells and are very intricately patterned brown and white.  The bodies of the snails are a mottled grey and cream color.  I found them on the glass near the top of the tank, and separated them into a fish bag and left the bag in the tank.  I was worried they might be a cone snail species but still unsure.  They were not grazing algae from the glass, that I can tell.  I know cone snails are more prone to be in/on the sand bed.  Are there any other snails that have a large proboscis, that these might be?  Ones that just wave it around in search of something?  Are there any good books or websites that focus with pictures on gastropods?       Thank you for your time, and great website.       Sincerely,   Brett R. <<Brett:  It seems highly unlikely that such a small snail would cause the death of a fish and shrimp.  Since you don't have a picture, here are 3 links to sites with pictures and/or more info. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailidfaqs.htm   http://melevsreef.com/id/snails.html   Here is a link to the first of 3 articles on snails.   http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php  Best of luck, Roy>>

Smoking Hitchhikers 07/10/06 Hello, and thanks again for all of your great information. <<Hello...and you're quite welcome!>> I have used your site religiously since starting out and things are going fine. <<Excellent>> My question regards a few hitchhikers that have "appeared" in my tank. <<What a neat hobby this is, eh?>> They seem to have the slime over the shell. <<...?>> Some are black, some white. <<Hmm, could this "slime" be a fleshy mantle?...cowries perhaps?>> I have maybe 3 or 4.  My concern is if they are a danger to my soft corals. <<Hard to say without knowing more/seeing a picture>> I have noticed every now and then they stop and have a smoke.  They start puffing little smoke billows for about 10 puffs in a row and then it won't happen again for a while.  Any ideas? <<Is likely spawning behavior>> I'm sorry I have no photo. Thanks so much, Jill <<While unwanted hitchhikers are a possibility, often times these incidental organisms are harmless, with most "cycling out" of a system in short order.  I would keep watch and enjoy the critters while you can/remove them if it becomes apparent they are harmful.  Regards EricR>>

Thrum, thrum... Don Knotts is gone but not the incredible Mr. Limpet    7/1/06 I have a 125 gallon reef system that has been running for about a year and just recently I found a snail that's shell looks like an abalone but it is only about 1/2 a dime in size.  It was found around what looks like rows of eggs.  Is this creature bad? if not what is it? <Uhh, please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailidfaqs.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>