Friend or Enemy?

richserpe

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Hello All:

Noticed these little black bumps on a few of my Astreas. Not sure what they are. Took one snail out and tried to pick it off but it wouldn't budge. Next step is the needle nose .pliers but I'd like to know if it;'s a good guy or a bad guy first. Any help with an ID would be greatly appreciated TIA
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vetteguy53081

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Hello All:

Noticed these little black bumps on a few of my Astreas. Not sure what they are. Took one snail out and tried to pick it off but it wouldn't budge. Next step is the needle nose .pliers but I'd like to know if it;'s a good guy or a bad guy first. Any help with an ID would be greatly appreciated TIA
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Need clearer pics and closer under white light. May be collanista snails but hard to confirm
 
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richserpe

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Need clearer pics and closer under white light. May be collanista snails but hard to confirm
Just picked this guy off one of my Mexican Snails. Has all the characteristics of a limpet. Had to pry him off with needle nose pliers. Still not sure if he's a good guy or a bad guy. Doesn't appear to be a keyhole limpet. Must have come in on one of the coral plugs I just planted in the tank.
 

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ISpeakForTheSeas

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Just picked this guy off one of my Mexican Snails. Has all the characteristics of a limpet. Had to pry him off with needle nose pliers. Still not sure if he's a good guy or a bad guy. Doesn't appear to be a keyhole limpet. Must have come in on one of the coral plugs I just planted in the tank.
Harmless/beneficial:
Yeah, looks like either a Slipper Limpet (genus Crepidula) or a Hoof Snail (taxonomic family Hipponicidae) - both are harmless; slipper snails are filter feeders, and hoof snails feed by extending a long proboscis (think like an elephant's trunk) to eat either their host snail's waste or any food it can reach from its host's back.
 
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richserpe

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I figured as much. Got some growing on my Astreas as well......I'll let them be until they start to cover the host's shell.....then adios.
 

vetteguy53081

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Just picked this guy off one of my Mexican Snails. Has all the characteristics of a limpet. Had to pry him off with needle nose pliers. Still not sure if he's a good guy or a bad guy. Doesn't appear to be a keyhole limpet. Must have come in on one of the coral plugs I just planted in the tank.
Has the body of a cerith snail but could also be a small abalone
 

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