Found in my tank

[ReefGal911]

Found this odd guy in my tank. I didn't purchase him. I do have Turbo snails and Astrea snails. But this looks like a snail with out a shell or a really soft snail. He is eating and moving, climbing on the glass and I can find no abandoned snail shells in the tank. Can anyone tell me what he is?

 

[tbrown]

Shape looks right for an Astrea or a Trochus maybe covered in coralline algae or a sponge? There have been reports of snails leaving their shells though as well, so it is a possibility, just not often that it happens.

Im curious though, the underside - are those little snails? If so, they might be pyramid snails which are predatory.

 

[ReefGal911]

Now I have to research pyramid snails. I thought those bumps were odd too. Thanks!

 

[tbrown]

Now I have to research pyramid snails. I thought those bumps were odd too. Thanks!

It's hard to see. Some look like maybe but most don't really so hopefully it's not.

 

[ReefGal911]

It's hard to see. Some look like maybe but most don't really so hopefully it's not.

Saw this development tonight on the back of it??? Does this help identify it? Is it bad?

 

[ReefGal911]

Found this odd guy in my tank. I didn't purchase him. I do have Turbo snails and Astrea snails. But this looks like a snail with out a shell or a really soft snail. He is eating and moving, climbing on the glass and I can find no abandoned snail shells in the tank. Can anyone tell me what he is?

Updating pics. Whatever it is...still moving and still eating. What ever is coming out of the back moves. looks soft not hard.

 

[tbrown]

Not sure but those tubes look like sponge or tunicate siphons. Interesting.

 

[tbrown]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[ReefGal911]

Not sure but those tubes look like sponge or tunicate siphons. Interesting.

Thought siphon but there's about 5-6 of them.

 

[ReefGal911]

Shape looks right for an Astrea or a Trochus maybe covered in coralline algae or a sponge? There have been reports of snails leaving their shells though as well, so it is a possibility, just not often that it happens.

Im curious though, the underside - are those little snails? If so, they might be pyramid snails which are predatory.

I think that's pieces of sand. It's the top that worries me. The little siphone things sticking out of his back. About 5 of them.

 

[rayadog]

Could it be an encrusting sponge? … on a snail..

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

Could it be an encrusting sponge? … on a snail..

Yeah, that seems to be a sponge growing on a snail shell (you can see parts of the inside of the shell in some of the pics taken from underneath the snail); the large, visible siphons are the out-current siphons (oscula):

sponges have two kinds of "dots" on them - the ostia (the small, in-current holes; singular = ostium) and the oscula (the big, out-current holes; singular = osculum). Depending on how the specific kind of sponge grows, the oscula at least may grow as the sponge does up to a certain size; additionally, some sponges can expand and contract a bit, which may change the size of the holes for a time too.

Based on the texture, my first thought was would be a Dysideid sponge, possibly a Dysidea species, but there are a few other sponges that can have similar textures. (Microscope pics of the sponge spicules would be useful for any ID confirmation).

Other than it being pretty heavy (given the size of the sponge), it theoretically shouldn't hurt the snail (though I would keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't start growing over the opening of the shell).