strange snail things

[mdavis735]

i have some strange things that have appeared in my tank.they look like snails with no shell.i had seen one or two at a time before,but tonight when i got home from work there are litterally hundreds of them.all stuck on the glass.they range from tiny to about a half inch long and maybe a quarter inch wide.the have kind of an oval shaped body that seems to be stuck to the glass,and a tiny head that is stuck as well.i dont know for sure if they are whats doing it,but i have been hearing a popping sound like something hitting the glass.never have seen whats doing it but i'd hear it every now and then during the day.tonight with these things out i am hearing it alot.not positive they are doing it as i havent seen it.i wish i could get a decent pic,but since its dark and the flash reflection blocks out the things on the glass i havent been able to.anybody have any idea what they could be?

[Mr Cob]

LOL...everyone goes through this one...

It's an awesome snail called a Stomatella Snail.

Here's a pic to help you ID it:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/BeesGoneWild/StomatellaVaria.jpg

[Mr Cob]

Oh, and the popping noise like a mini-pistol shootout in your tank is actually a Pistol Shrimp.

I thought my tank was cracking the first few weeks before I realized I had a Pistol Shrimp.

Do a google search. It's another really cool addition. I never see mine though, but I hear him every coupleof weeks :)

[txav8r]

I think mantis shrimp make that popping sound also.

[mdavis735]

i've never seen a shrimp in here,but if there was a pistol shrimp that would be cool.i have a yashia goby and was planning to buy a pistol shrimp to pair with him.

[mdavis735]

well i cant use the link.guess i'll do a google search.get a page that says "reef central and reefkeeping magazine does not support hot linking from other sites".i guess even though they are supposedlly here to help reefers they are too good to assist people sent from other sites.guess that figures.i think i'll withdraw my membership.lol

[Mr Cob]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/BeesGoneWild/StomatellaVaria.jpg

[cpreefguy]

LOL...everyone goes through this one...


Ain't that the truth :)
And you're spot on, stomatella snail.

[Mr Cob]

Ain't that the truth :)
And you're spot on, stomatella snail.

For real, when I found mine for the first time he/she was sending what looked like smoke signals...it looked like it was shooting smoke to a cliff above where a hermit crab was as if it was some sort of defense. I watched it for hours...posted it on MAAST to find out it was a stomatella snail and it was sending out mating juice :)

Anyways several months later my entire tank was loaded with them. Great cleaners.

[mdavis735]

the first one i ever saw was like that.it was eating something then it sprayed that "stuff" everywhere.i could not figure out what it was.then shortly after i lost some soft coral.so i decided that thing killed it.the next time i saw it i got rid of it.that was months ago.since i have seen one or two here or there.then last night there were literally hundreds of them.all different sizes.its crazy because i work nights and look at my tank every night when i get home to make sure all is good.last night is the first time i saw them like this.i would guess its a good sign.like pods maybe.a sign of a maturing tank

[Mr Cob]

ok sorry gotta do this.i lacked one post being able to post in for sale forums.so this should take care of that.haha

Classic.

[txav8r]

Here is a link to a thread by Justahobby that shows a cool video of pistol shrimp.
http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?p=640900#post640900

[mdavis735]

i was gonna buy one for the goby.i keep hearing the sound but have never seen it.the goby stays in one place like he's "guarding" something.who knows.maybe one hitchhiked in and i just never have seen it