Stomatella Spawning Event?

[PicassoClown04]

So I was checking out my tank and saw some weird cloudiness appearing in bursts from my rocks/ zoas. Looked closer and they were coming from my stomatella snails! They came as hitchhikers in my rock, and I know very little about them other than they’re pretty good at cleaning the algae. They looked like they were having some sort of contractions? Then the cloud of whatever it was would come out from their shell. Was this a spawning event? Apologies if the videos don’t post well, and can upload them to YouTube and post a link if this doesn’t work.

 

[PR_nano]

Yeah, one of mine did the same 2 days ago. I have a bunch of babies in the refugium and some tiny ones that come out at night in the rock and glass. Nice that you capture it on video, by the time I grab the phone it was over, lol.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Update: I found a bunch of baby ones! The shell was about the size of a pinhead. Guess they’ve done this before!

 

[Scottmac]

Every type of snail I have come across either in freshwater or my new marine tank has laid their eggs on surfaces rather than randomly in the water, are Somatella different to the norm? Are you sure it wasn't from the corals?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Positive, the videos show very clearly them releasing some sort of cloud into the water. More only appeared after the snails appeared to ‘push’ and there is no way it was the coral because these two videos were taken about a foot apart, one in zoanthids and one near a couple of hammer corals. 100% it was the snails, I’m just wondering if these were the male snails releasing sperm while the females laid their eggs in the rocks/on the glass somewhere else in the tank?

 

[Scottmac]

I cannot get the vids to work as its invalid source, but would be very interested in seeing what you have described. Fascinating.

It would make sense then that's its the male sperm clouding the water and the females eggs are laid stationary on a surface to be fertilised. Your lucky as they are incredibly good CUC!

 

[PicassoClown04]

Hang on! I’ll upload them to YouTube real quick and post the link

 

[Krzydmnd]

definitely spawning stomas. They're beautiful and lucky you! I lost all of mine in a tank move last year and haven't seen any new since. sad face.

 

[PicassoClown04]

 

[PicassoClown04]

definitely spawning stomas. They're beautiful and lucky you! I lost all of mine in a tank move last year and haven't seen any new since. sad face.

Thank you! I love these little guys. I’m also getting black and white babies! Very exciting to see. I’ve been noticing some very very tiny ones on my glass at night, so I guess they’ve been at it for a while now! So sorry for your losses, I’d hate to lose these guys

 

[najer]

It took me ages to figure out what was happening the first time I saw it! ;)

 

[Scottmac]

Those vids are incredible, I will keep an eye on my Stomatella (makes me think of Nutella) to see if they do the same. Very nice tank too btw, your coral colours are stunning.:)

 

[PicassoClown04]

Thanks! I use the ice cap lens for photography/videography. My pictures have been coming out much better!