Snail hitchhiker

Beretta · Nov 29, 2023

I have recently noticed that my Astrea snail has some fellow friends growing on his shell. Thought maybe it could be a possible baby? I have tried to research this but to no avail. Went to try and see if I can pop it off but as I got close to the shell the bump tightened up. It started out small and has grown.. is this something that I should be concerned about? Completely stumped by this.

ISpeakForTheSeas · Nov 29, 2023

Can you get some pics under white light? Do the bumps send anything out of them (like a little feather fan or tentacle or anything)?

My first thoughts would be either barnacles, slipper limpets, or hoof snails (all of which would be harmless).

Beretta · Nov 29, 2023

I did have a barnacle that hitchhiked on my Duncan which I quickly glued and it took care of that. Now, the other 2 pest may be what it is. I’ll have to get a better pic of it tomorrow when my lights come back on.

Beretta · Nov 30, 2023

ISpeakForTheSeas said:
Can you get some pics under white light? Do the bumps send anything out of them (like a little feather fan or tentacle or anything)?

My first thoughts would be either barnacles, slipper limpets, or hoof snails (all of which would be harmless).

ISpeakForTheSeas · Nov 30, 2023

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.