There's an alien in my tank

[Branchie68]

Hi All,

This came in on a Blueberry Sea Fan I bought yesterday. It looked like a piece of the rock that the fan was attached to but this morning it has detached and is clinging to a rock nearby. It looks like a clam at one end with a shell-like piece on top and what look like legs at the sides. It also seems to have tiny red tentacles too. It's the strangest thing I've seen and I need help IDing so I know if it's safe to keep.

Does anybody have any ideas?

Many thanks,

Paul

 

[mtfish]

Interesting. Looks like a spiny star astraea snail with a small oyster attached on top.

 

[Reef_dachs]

Is it hard to the touch? If not, perhaps a small sea hare. I can’t quite tell from the pics.

 

[Branchie68]

Interesting. Looks like a spiny star astraea snail with a small oyster attached on top.

Yup. I see what you mean. Could well be. Still looks like there’s something else under the snail if that’s what it is too. So far though would you be worried about keeping it and watching for a while?

 

[Branchie68]

Is it hard to the touch? If not, perhaps a small sea hare. I can’t quite tell from the pics.

I think it’s pretty hard. I thought it was a part of the rock when I was putting it in the tank yesterday. I think I’d have noticed any softness.

 

[KJ]

Interesting. Looks like a spiny star astraea snail with a small oyster attached on top.

Agree.

 

[Branchie68]

so...all OK to keep? Free friends?

 

[PicassoClown04]

You don’t think it could be a hermit crab/tiny urchin carrying a spiny astrea snail and clam could you? If that clam is still alive, it looks kinda like a tridactna, worth saving because they’re big bucks

 

[Branchie68]

You don’t think it could be a hermit crab/tiny urchin carrying a spiny astrea snail and clam could you? If that clam is still alive, it looks kinda like a tridactna, worth saving because they’re big bucks

I’ll keep an eye on it but certainly keeping it for now.

 

[mtfish]

The oyster you have is a Coon oyster, Ostrea frons. It is a filter feeder and not photosynthetic. Still cool.

 

[michaeljperkins]

looks like a Spiny Star Astraea and a maxima shell

 

[Branchie68]

Thanks for your help everyone

 

[flampton]

Hopefully you know but that's an extremely hard coral to keep alive. Are you an expert aquarist? If not you need to know that'll you will have to keep a food source in the water basically 24/7. And because of this you'll have to dose a lot of plankton which of course means massive filtering/removal of nutrients. Are you prepared for this?

 

[Branchie68]

Hopefully you know but that's an extremely hard coral to keep alive. Are you an expert aquarist? If not you need to know that'll you will have to keep a food source in the water basically 24/7. And because of this you'll have to dose a lot of plankton which of course means massive filtering/removal of nutrients. Are you prepared for this?

I do know thanks. I’m no expert but I’ve read a lot and I’m going to do my best to keep it healthy. Not sure I was fully prepared for saltwater at all before I took the plunge but I’ve loved (almost) very moment. Wish me luck!