sgould

I have an astrea snail that I have been noticing for a while now seemed to have something hitchhiking along inside the shell and peeking out from time to time. Today the snail made a trip up the glass to the top of the tank and made it easy for me to get a good look at it. It is a feather duster. The tube is down inside the snail's shell, and the duster peeks out and enjoys the ride as the snail moves around the tank. I know long term the duster will get too big to stay in the shell, so I presume that sooner or later it will come out on its own.

In total, that makes 2 feather dusters that I know of in the tank that have hitchiked there.

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	snailduster1.JPG (44.1 KB, 17 views)
	snailduster2.JPG (36.4 KB, 19 views)

agsansoo

Are you sure it's not one of these ?

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Aiptasia.jpg (9.0 KB, 13 views)

sgould

100%

sgould

And curse you for even thinking such a thing.

agsansoo

I have a few you can have ... LOL

sgould

I am overcome with your generosity.

agsansoo

OK .. It's a few hundred ... but who's counting. LOL

sgould

Maybe the LFS will buy some back from you!

bhcaaron

Ummm.... What is that?

leximommy

lol thats what i was thinking aaron

sgould

aiptasia...the dandelions of the undersea realm.

They are a type of anemone, they spread like wildfire, and they can sting corals and such to death. Generally considered a big time nuisance.

bhcaaron

So THAT's the one! I've read so much about it. I can't remember the aiptasia killers though.

sgould

Supposedly lemon juice will kill them. Peppermint shrimp will eat them. I have read that red leg hermits will too, but I haven't heard anyone really talk about that...don't know how true it is. Some butterfly fish, some puffers, and some filefish all supposedly snack on it as well.

bhcaaron

Why not just take them out of the tank? Voila!

agsansoo

OK ... I've tried lemon juice, Peppermint shrimp and have a small red leg hermit crab ... Nothing. I have tried Aiptasia Control by Blue Vet (because I meet these guys a reef show). It works, on the ones you can find. But the ones in the back of the tank, multiply like crazy ! LOL Next step is maybe a Copperbanded Butterfly fish.