Baby snail ID

fishnchip · Mar 4, 2018

Just noticed a bunch of these little guys on my rocks. Don't know what they are. Don't seem to be harming any corals though...If anyone knows what they are please lmk!!

Thank you!!!

DSC reef · Mar 4, 2018

I'm thinking baby collinista. #reefsquad any ideas

Dsnakes · Mar 4, 2018

DSC reef said:
I'm thinking baby collinista. #reefsquad any ideas

I think you're right

my tank is full of them

Jose Mayo · Mar 4, 2018

The shape of the shell resembles the "purple snail" (Janthina janthina), if it is, it is a predator of cnidarians (anemones and corals) ... it would be good to remove them if they look like these:

Regards

DSC reef · Mar 4, 2018

Jose Mayo said:
The shape of the shell resembles the "purple snail" (Janthina janthina), if it is, it is a predator of cnidarians (anemones and corals) ... it would be good to remove them if they look like these:

Regards

Good eye, I didn't see the typical collinista markings but the pic isn't the greatest.

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 4, 2018

A collonista pic for reference.
There is some difference in markings and patterns naturally.

Jose Mayo · Mar 4, 2018

DSC reef said:
Good eye, I didn't see the typical collinista markings but the pic isn't the greatest.

What is strange is that these snails, Janthina sp, often float on the surface using their bubble rafts, they are not usually on the substrate or rocks, so I am in doubt.

Regards

DSC reef · Mar 4, 2018

Jose Mayo said:
What is strange is that these snails, Janthina sp, often float on the surface using their bubble rafts, they are not usually on the substrate or rocks, so I am in doubt.

Regards

All we can do is try

also, typically when I've seen collinistas there surrounded by many others. I don't think I've seen one singly.

fishnchip · Mar 4, 2018

Thank you guys for trying to figure it out! They don't seem to be causing any harm so I'll let them live another day.... but if they dare take a bite out of my corals, they're out

Jose Mayo · Mar 4, 2018

Renee Schwartz said:
Thank you guys for trying to figure it out! They don't seem to be causing any harm so I'll let them live another day.... but if they dare take a bite out of my corals, they're out

If you could just take one out of the water, and photograph it on the top, bottom and side showing the mouth of the shell, it would be possible to identify the specie more accurately.

Regards

fishnchip · Mar 4, 2018

Jose Mayo said:
If you could just take one out of the water, and photograph it on the top, bottom and side showing the mouth of the shell, it would be possible to identify the specie more accurately.

Regards

Yes, I'll try and get one really quick!

fishnchip · Mar 4, 2018

Here are pictures from the top and bottom.. These things are tiny!

Lovemyreef2015 · Mar 5, 2018

I've seen a few sites with multiple non patterned Collonista snails. One way to be 100% sure it is a Collonista is to look for a small pit in the center of their operculum. It is unique to the Collonista. Here is a picture for reference on where to locate the pit. You might need a magnifying glass though lol.

Jose Mayo · Mar 5, 2018

Well ... it's definitely not a Nerita sp or a Janthina sp. I searched all the sites I know, but I could not find beyond mere similarities. No really positive identification. Am sorry.

Regards