Chiton

[Blue Ring Octopus]

So I purchased one of these and he has been in my observation tank, it seems to be difficult to remove him from the class, so yesterday he climbed out of the water and has remained out of the water for over 24 hours, I tried splashing some water on his so he would let go, but nope, is this normal behavior?
Thanks in advance.

 

[bluemon]

So I purchased one of these and he has been in my observation tank, it seems to be difficult to remove him from the class, so yesterday he climbed out of the water and has remained out of the water for over 24 hours, I tried splashing some water on his so he would let go, but nope, is this normal behavior?
Thanks in advance.

depending on the species, it can be normal.

A lot of these guys live in tidal areas where they are used to climbing a bit out on to rocks, or anchoring onto rocks and having the tide lower the water levels.

They usually remain there until the water comes back in with the tide.

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

Fuzzy Chiton

Resides : Rocks and glass Consumes : Hair Algae, Cyanobacteria, Diatoms and Turf Algae Max Size : 2 or 50mm Origin : Caribbean Availability: Weekly Warnings : Not...

www.reefcleaners.org

They came with shells but they shed them.

 

[bluemon]

Fuzzy Chiton

Resides : Rocks and glass Consumes : Hair Algae, Cyanobacteria, Diatoms and Turf Algae Max Size : 2 or 50mm Origin : Caribbean Availability: Weekly Warnings : Not...

www.reefcleaners.org

They came with shells but they shed them.

Sorry.. they shed their shells?

A Chiton without a shell is a dead chiton.

Do you have a picture of the chiton? Or the shed shell?

 

[kevgib67]

I would say normal behavior, mine would come out of the water to clean the film algae on the plastic rim above the water surface.

 

[bluemon]

I would say normal behavior, mine would come out of the water to clean the film algae on the plastic rim above the water surface.

That's a nice looking one, how well does it manage to make it over that lip?

Also, I usually love all marine creatures, I don't get squeamish around bristleworms, for example, but chitons kinda do that to me, as they remind me of terrestrial arthropods with their "scales"

 

[kevgib67]

That's a nice looking one, how well does it manage to make it over that lip?

Also, I usually love all marine creatures, I don't get squeamish around bristleworms, for example, but chitons kinda do that to me, as they remind me of terrestrial arthropods with their "scales"

I can see the terrestrial arthropod! IDK, I opened the lid and there it was. Cool inverts and great cuc.

 

[Schulks]

depending on the species, it can be normal.

A lot of these guys live in tidal areas where they are used to climbing a bit out on to rocks, or anchoring onto rocks and having the tide lower the water levels.

They usually remain there until the water comes back in with the tide.

I had a few left in my tank after draining it for replacement. After about a week in 2" of not circulating cold water the chitons were noticeably weakened and I was able to remove them and acclimate to the new tank.

They seem like very tough critters.

 

[coralmonsters.judy Verified Sponsor]

Normal behavior. Unlike the nirites (i call those suicidal snails) these guys should go back in the water on their own. You have no idea how difficult it is to get them off the rocks when they're being collected! I try not to stock too many of them because they do whatever they want. I usually collect them as they are ordered with the exception of like ten that I keep cause i like to watch them lol. If you want him off the glass, pull.. hard... lol

 

[coralmonsters.judy Verified Sponsor]

Made you guys a video of mine :)

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

I apologize for not responding and ghosting this thread, I want to thank everyone for taking the time to view this thread. Here is the guy 3 days at least out of the tank, those are bubbles below him not sand.

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

Here is the shell he left 3 days earlier before he climbed out of the tank.

 

[bluemon]

Here is the shell he left 3 days earlier before he climbed out of the tank.

Oh that’s not his shell.

That’s just a random oyster shell he was shipped on.

Also, why is your tank so high? Might not be ideal for a chiton as it will always climb up

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

^^^^^ It is an observation tank, I cannot get him to let go so I cannot transfer him to my IM 25 Lagoon.