Thought it was eggs but it moves!

[appleton71]

Saw this squiggly thing on my LR and assumed something laid eggs. A while later I noticed part of it was extended straight then jerked back quickly. Any ideas what it is?

 

[ReefQueen]

You were right, those are eggs I would bet part of them came unattached and that's why they look as if they moved.

 

[appleton71]

It's definitely moving under it's own power. It extends as if reaching for something then pulls back in a split second.

 

[ReefQueen]

Hmmm then that's a new one to me then. It definitely looks like snail eggs, but I am looking on my phone. Let's call in @Lionfish Lair to take a look

 

[cloak]

Do you have a Sea Hare in your tank by any chance? If so, this would be my guess. (eggs) Why it's moving on it's own I have no idea, but perhaps the eggs were laid on something alive underneath.

 

[appleton71]

I stand corrected. After zooming in with my camera and watching for a while, it appears that Vermetid snails are snagging the loose end and pulling on it.

 

[appleton71]

Do you have a Sea Hare in your tank by any chance? If so, this would be my guess. (eggs) Why it's moving on it's own I have no idea, but perhaps the eggs were laid on something alive underneath.

Nope, no Sea Hare.

 

[cloak]

What kind of snails do you have?

 

[appleton71]

What kind of snails do you have?

I have about five different kinds of snails but I believe they are Cerith eggs. It's odd that this is the first time I've seen them because I've had Ceriths the whole time my tanks been up. I see Nerite eggs all the time.

 

[cloak]

Just out of curiosity do you know what the other three snails you have are? Like you said they're probably Cerith snail eggs, but just to be sure we can use the process of elimination.

 

[appleton71]

Do you know what the other three snails are?

Besides the Ceriths and Nerites I have dwarf Cerith, Gold-ringer Cowrie, Nassarius, Banded Trochus, Fighting Conch and a couple small black turbo snails. Yeah, I know that's more than five.

 

[clowner]

Any ricordea in the tank?

 

[Maritimer]

Good observations!

They look exactly like the eggs my cerith snails lay. (>_<)

~Bruce

 

[appleton71]

Any ricordea in the tank?

No. The only coral I have is a single candy cane frag as a test to see if my fish would leave it alone.

 

[Cary]

I vote Cerith...But I have never seen any move.

 

[KJ]

A+ Cerith snails.