Baby snail ID?

[AaronFReef]

I have had trochus, astraea, nassarius, and margarita snails in my 45g system and at times have seen the trochus spawning among others. I’ve seen lots of eggs laid on the glass of varying shapes. Now I have a system crawling with a hundred plus baby snails that are up to 1/8”. Can anyone help ID these?

 

[Coralreefer1]

They look like Sun Dial Snails to me! They are Zoanthid and Palythoa killers. Not a good snail to find in a reef tank. Best to eradicate as quickly as possible.

 

[AaronFReef]

Thanks! I see they look a lot like collonista snails. They’re not going near zoanthids but are all over the algae on the sand and glass. Would that help distinguish them or can sundial snails do this behavior also?

 

[AaronFReef]

Any other ideas anyone?

 

[AaronFReef]

I have been keeping an eye on the zoas and haven’t seen them go on them. They seem to be eating algal film on the glass and sand more than anything. Thoughts?

 

[KJ]

Heliacus sp.

Google Search

www.google.com

 

[Bbfishb81]

Collonista looks close

 

[KJ]

This doesn`t look like Collonista snail.

Google Search

www.google.com

 

[KJ]

@reef lover

 

[AaronFReef]

Thanks all. The zoas have looked more closed up recently with the tentacles missing on a large Sunny D polyp a few weeks back. I thought my algae blenny had a bite.

Here’s some macro shots that hopefully help. I still see collonista and not sundial myself but don’t know what to look for really.

 

[AaronFReef]

It looks just like this to me:

Redirect Notice

images.app.goo.gl

Edit: from this reefcentral post:

Tiny or baby snails OK?? - Reef Central Online Community

Tiny or baby snails OK?? Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society (CMAS)

www.reefcentral.com

 

[reef lover]

Easy to tell...op...if the snail has a cone shaped trap door its a sundial..if not theyre likely ok. I do agree they appear too darkly colored for collinista though...

 

[AaronFReef]

Uh oh. Alright time to do some dissecting to get a view of the trap door

 

[AaronFReef]

@reef lover is trochus or astraea likely? I had them spawning in my tank at times and laying eggs as were my cerith though these don’t look like cerith

 

[AaronFReef]

After googling about sundial snails these guys don’t match the description from a looks standpoint or a behavior standpoint but it’s good to learn about them! I’m going to keep an eye on them as they are growing at a phenomenal rate and I’m sure I’ll be able to tell what they are soon. Looking like trochus more and more to me.

 

[reef lover]

I lean toward trochus myself.