Sea hare slug thing?

CrimsonTide · Jan 7, 2022

Just bought a st Thomas mushroom at the LFS and noticed a cool hitch hiker no clue if he is safe to go in the tank he is still in the bag for now. It doesn't have a shell on its back bit it does look like its back has something a little harder than its underside here are the best pics I could get hes not super small but definitely not big I would say the size of a dime ??! Maybe.... any help would be nice. I dont want to kill him if he's not a nuisance pest.

i_am_mclovin · Jan 7, 2022

Hard to tell but almost looks like a stomatella snail?

Eagle_Steve · Jan 7, 2022

CrimsonTide said:
Just bought a st Thomas mushroom at the LFS and noticed a cool hitch hiker no clue if he is safe to go in the tank he is still in the bag for now. It doesn't have a shell on its back bit it does look like its back has something a little harder than its underside here are the best pics I could get hes not super small but definitely not big I would say the size of a dime ??! Maybe.... any help would be nice. I dont want to kill him if he's not a nuisance pest.

Looks like a stomatella snail. If so they are one of the best algae eaters there is.

Google "Stomatella Snail" and compare images. If it is one, score!!!!!! Free clean up crew.

CrimsonTide · Jan 7, 2022

Eagle_Steve said:
Looks like a stomatella snail. If so they are one of the best algae eaters there is.

Google "Stomatella Snail" and compare images. If it is one, score!!!!!! Free clean up crew.

Ok so I just googled that and it definitely looks like that i think. Its not a traditional looking shell on its back and these don't seem to have them either.

So these a good to go in tanks and not harmful?

CrimsonTide · Jan 7, 2022

I guess I'm going for another picture hang on

CrimsonTide · Jan 7, 2022

Ok so I am not a mollusk-ologist but I'm going to say yes to stomatella but would love a second yes before it goes in the tank after this pics.

Eagle_Steve · Jan 7, 2022

CrimsonTide said:
Ok so I am not a mollusk-ologist but I'm going to say yes to stomatella but would love a second yes before it goes in the tank after this pics.

Congrats. You have one of the best algae eater snails there is. Stomatella for sure.

CrimsonTide · Jan 7, 2022

Eagle_Steve said:
Congrats. You have one of the best algae eater snails there is. Stomatella for sure.

Thanks. In he goes!

Borat · Jan 7, 2022

Yes - keep

JumboShrimp · Jan 7, 2022

(A Sea Hare does not have a shell, by the way.)

CrimsonTide · Jan 7, 2022

JumboShrimp said:
(A Sea Hare does not have a shell, by the way.)

Haha. Well this thing didn't look like it had a shell either until I took it into the other room. When it was floating in my tank temp acclimating it was hard to see with all the blues. I would still argue what what this thing has can hardly be called a shell at this point! It looks like a very small cap. Lol

vetteguy53081 · Jan 7, 2022

Noo- dont put that snail in your tank. . . . . . . Send it to me . . LOL- You cant buy these guys and theyre fantastic to have- Better go back to that store abd see if they have any more they want to part with

CrimsonTide · Jan 7, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Noo- dont put that snail in your tank. . . . . . . Send it to me . . LOL- You cant buy these guys and theyre fantastic to have- Better go back to that store abd see if they have any more they want to part with

I've never seen anyone selling them thats for sure. Why don't vendors sell them?