Is this a limpet? Friend or foe?

[vanguard]

We added a clean up crew to the new tank and two of the snails had these guys attached to their shell.

Q: Is it a limpet? Is it a friend of foe?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

If it was on the snail's shell, then probably either a slipper limpet or hoof snail (both are harmless).

 

[kjkszpj9]

Its too fat and fleshy to be a limpet or chiton it almost looks like a nerite but i guess the hoof snail or slipper limpet is the actual snail.

 

[vanguard]

Its too fat and fleshy to be a limpet or chiton it almost looks like a nerite but i guess the hoof snail or slipper limpet is the actual snail.

I'm not sure if the picture shows it well enough. In the top picture, what you're seeing is all shell. In the second picture, you can see his fleshy undercarriage.

Does that change your mind or did you see it well enough in the first place?

 

[kjkszpj9]

I'm not sure if the picture shows it well enough. In the top picture, what you're seeing is all shell. In the second picture, you can see his fleshy undercarriage.

Does that change your mind or did you see it well enough in the first place?

ive generally never seen your snail in person before but it has same appearance as chitons limpets etc but its most likely a slipper limpet or the snail that sits on other snails that the guy who said about hoof snail.

 

[vanguard]

I think it's a limpet. I did a little searching and found people say they are good by a ratio of about 5:1.

A minority of people say they are bad: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/limpets-good-or-bad.508826/post-6002223

I've personally had a limpet make a home on my purple stylo and eat a hole in its flesh. For that reason I've decided to side with the minority and throw it out. In general, if we're uncertain about a hitchhiker my wife and I toss it.