What is this?

[rudijbriggs]

Brought home a new fish today and this little guy was also in the bag. Do I need to get him out? Is he harmful?

 

[rudijbriggs]

A hitchhiker came home with my new fish. Is it harmful? Should I get rid of it?

 

[blaxsun]

Looks like a snail - not sure what type.

 

[Isopod80]

Interesting

 

[Isopod80]

Pretty snail.

 

[Isopod80]

At first I thought marginella snail but then I noticed the mantle partially covering the shell. I actually think this is a small or juvenile cowrie. If so that's a really cool find. Most are harmless algae eaters. If you ever see the mantle completely cover the shell, it's definitely a cowrie. Here's a very similar example.

 

[4FordFamily]

No idea but that’s pretty cool!

 

[WheatToast]

At first I thought marginella snail but then I noticed the mantle partially covering the shell. I actually think this is a small or juvenile cowrie. If so that's a really cool find. Most are harmless algae eaters. If you ever see the mantle completely cover the shell, it's definitely a cowrie. Here's a very similar example.

Doesn’t the Cowrie you pictured feed on Gorgonians?

 

[Softhammer]

That’s a cowrie. Excellent hitchhiker.

 

[rudijbriggs]

At first I thought marginella snail but then I noticed the mantle partially covering the shell. I actually think this is a small or juvenile cowrie. If so that's a really cool find. Most are harmless algae eaters. If you ever see the mantle completely cover the shell, it's definitely a cowrie. Here's a very similar example.

That’s amazing similarity! Mine is probably just very young. You can see the similarities in the tail. Thank you so much!

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Flamingo Tongue, and @WheatToast is right. They only feed on Gorgonians.

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Do you have any GSP? I've heard unsubstantiated rumors that they might eat that. I'd love to know if it's true or not.

 

[blaxsun]

Do you have any GSP? I've heard unsubstantiated rumors that they might eat that. I'd love to know if it's true or not.

My cowries are never on my GSP. They usually spend most of their time in rock crevices, and I rarely see them during the day.

 

[Reefer Reboot]

My cowries are never on my GSP. They usually spend most of their time in rock crevices, and I rarely see them during the day.

Are your cowries specifically Flamingo Tongues? There are several other types of cowries that just graze on the rocks.

 

[Reef Jockey]

awesome find but be careful. Reefer Reboot is likely right

Flamingo Tongue - Oceana

The flamingo tongue is a small marine snail that lives on coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean. This species is very colorful, with bright pink or orange coloration and black spots. Interestingly, these colors are not associated with the shell, which is somewhat drab. Instead, the color...

oceana.org

 

[blaxsun]

Are your cowries specifically Flamingo Tongues? There are several other types of cowries that just graze on the rocks.

Mine are the golden ring ones with the fur coat.

 

[Isopod80]

Flamingo Tongue, and @WheatToast is right. They only feed on Gorgonians.

It's not a flamingo tongue. Flamingo tongues have a distinct bulge around the center of the shell giving the shell a diamond shape. They also lack the distinct veination pattern on the foot. It's a false cowrie. Here's another example.

 

[Isopod80]

Here's the shell of a flamingo tongue

 

[Isopod80]

Ok, i found the i.d. Diminovula margarita. (Margarita egg cowrie) a variety of false cowrie. Unfortunately, it feeds on soft corals. Too bad, the things are awesome looking.

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Hmm, I was ready to stand corrected and concede to @Isopod80 , but after looking a little closer, it may be neither of these. OP's snail has white dot surrounded by pigmented mantel.