Hitchhiker LPS? Help identify...

[TheKDude]

These two have been growing on my Ora Cespitularia frag plug that's been in the tank about 3 months. It has a striped radial pattern around the perimeter and a purple tentacle out the center. AI keeps saying it is a family of Acan, and I do have an Ora Blue Lagoon acan in the tank that is growing new heads like crazy.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Can you post a photo of the hitchiker?

 

[TheKDude]

Can you post a photo of the hitchiker?

Edited my post as the photos didnt show up the first time. Thanks.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I believe that's a Vermetid snail, it just hasn't started growing up and out yet. They form a tight spiral close to the surface they're attached to when they first start out.

 

[TheKDude]

I believe that's a Vermetid snail, it just hasn't started growing up and out yet. They form a tight spiral close to the surface they're attached to when they first start out.

That's disappointing. I guess I should break them off asap?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

That's disappointing. I guess I should break them off asap?

They're not the worst hitchiker and pretty common. They have the capacity to irritate corals with their mucus nets but for the most part they're harmless to your reef.

They can be a hazard to your fingers though, their shells are very sharp and if you grab one accidentally it can give you a significant cut.

I have a few in my tank that I've left alone to give my wrasse and bumblebee snails something to hunt.

 

[TheKDude]

I just cut them off the plug. They were indeed snails. The shells were indeed hard but the inside was quite gooey.