Identification! Snail?? Clam??

thecostas · Jan 25, 2016

Hello R2R! So we are cycling our 29g bio cube with live rocks/sand. We just found 2 litter critters roaming around on rocks. The look like clams but they are moving in and out of the crevices so we assume they are so kind of snail.

Should we leave our new buddies or should we remove. We took the following pic. It is the white shelled thing on the red rock. Hope you can see it!

justaDutchguy · Jan 25, 2016

Those are stomatella snails. Good guys and fun to watch!

justaDutchguy · Jan 25, 2016

You , might see them climb to the highest spot in your tank and start spawning. For some reason mine disappeared after a year or so.

thecostas · Jan 25, 2016

Ok we just found long worm thing with tentacles near it mouth hiding in a crevice and black little worm things with legs running around on rocks. I can get a pic.

thecostas · Jan 25, 2016

This is the flea/worm things we are trying to get a pic of the other guy

justaDutchguy · Jan 25, 2016

The picture is a bit unclear, and I am not an expert on id's but my guess from the description and that small piece in the middle of the picture would be a bristle worm. But then again, I'd be more sure if others could chime in.
If it is a bristle worm, I would't worry too much, they are very common hitchhikers and do some cleaning, just be careful not to touch them as they have these sharp fiberglass like bristles.

Salty1962 · Jan 25, 2016

Welcome to R2R! Probably Amphipods and or Copepods. Good house cleaners and food for your livestock. The worm may be a Polychaeta or Bristle Worm imo. Good CUC but don't touch. They're also called Fire Worms and for a good reason. When touched by your skin they cause a burning sensation and cause blisters. I hope this helps some. These are your typical LR hitchhikers. Someone else may have better info than mine.