How did this happen?

[saltyhog]

Spotted this stark white trochus snail in my tank a couple of days ago. At first, I thought is was just a dead snail shell that had bleached out and been claimed by a hermit. Upon closer inspection it's a very much alive and healthy banded trochus snail. In person it is much more white.

What could have caused this?

 

[DSC reef]

Maybe it had coralline algae on it that died? Shot in the dark

 

[eggplantparrot]

Get yer self a permanent marker and he'll be ready to join his posse in no time!

 

[Instigate]

I had one thay was completely covered in sporbid worms once. I think DSC's idea about coralline growing then dying is likely the cause of yours.

 

[saltyhog]

Maybe it had coralline algae on it that died? Shot in the dark

I hadn't thought about that possibility! I bet you're right.

As you can see from looking at the shaded bottom of that shelf rock, coralline algae covers everything in my tank that won't hold still, and some things that do. Most of the older trochus snails are solid purple. Wonder what could have caused the coralline to die? It literally will be on the glass in 2-3 days if I don't clean the glass that often.

 

[DSC reef]

It would happen to our astrea and turbos. A random one here and there would go completely white. Never knew the cause but the coralline grew back quickly.

 

[Saltyreef]

I notice my astrea snails camp out on the overflow and return loc lines that sit somewhat out of the water for days on end. This could potentially kill the coraline if they do not return their top half back underwater. I think they camp out there and are instinctually waiting for the tide to turn and cover them back up....which never happens for them lol.

 

[malacoda]

It likely spent a bit of time in a position - perhaps the top of a rock or something, that allowed its shell to stick out above the waterline for a while. My scarlet hermit crab spent some time feeding on the top of a coral branch last week with half its shell protruding from the water. Now it has a shell the is half white and half purple.

 

[Saltyreef]

It likely spent a bit of time in a position - perhaps the top of a rock or something, that allowed its shell to stick out above the waterline for a while. My scarlet hermit crab spent some time feeding on the top of a coral branch last week with half its shell protruding from the water. Now it has a shell the is half white and half purple.

+100