what the heck is this!

waverider

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A few weeks ago this thing appeared on my rock. It moves slowly. It only comes out at night. Its got a velvet texture -either black or a very dark shade of purple. It has an opening on its back that looks like a line or stripe. Examined closely it has little appendages that seem to feel about.

It moves about the rock from one side of the tank to the other very well and appears every night in a different location, always hugging the rock.

what the heck is it??? !!!
20211020_015331.jpg
 
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waverider

waverider

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Yes! Limpet Snail. I googled and found this image which is an exact match:

"Black Elephant Limpet"

Will it reproduce?

It must have came in on my live rock. But I haven't introduced new live rock in 6 months.

This is why I love live rock vs dead rock. Yeah, you get the pests sometimes, but the surprises and diversity of life are worth it

b7fac378dd55a6c89e449bccb30f632a.jpg
 

Tamberav

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I have a neon orange one :) Nocturnal but fun to spot them. They do reproduce in our tanks if you have multiple.
 

sixty_reefer

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Yes! Limpet Snail. I googled and found this image which is an exact match:

"Black Elephant Limpet"

Will it reproduce?

It must have came in on my live rock. But I haven't introduced new live rock in 6 months.

This is why I love live rock vs dead rock. Yeah, you get the pests sometimes, but the surprises and diversity of life are worth it

b7fac378dd55a6c89e449bccb30f632a.jpg
This or a dendrodoris nigra
 

Tamberav

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Dont snails reproduce asexually?

I don't think so.

I had a single black one identical to yours I got many years ago. It never reproduced... however the person I got it from had several successfully breeding and was selling the babies.
 

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