What’s this thing...?

[unknown’nt]

First ever post in R2R so sorry for any formatting issues. I’ve tried other threads and Facebook pages to try and figure out what these things are with no luck. Everyone tells me it’s a stomatella, or some sort of limpet, or algae growth, but I can say with 100% certainty that it’s none of those. It is living, it doesn’t move, and it has this super hard outer shell. I picked them off and saw that they had meaty insides, kinda like a mussel... When I picked them off I saw no damage to the hammer’s skeleton so I don’t think they’re dangerous to coral, but I could be wrong since I don’t know what they are lol. This picture was taken a while back and recently I found one that was about the size of a quarter on the underside of the frag plate. The ones in the image are about pea size. Hopefully I can find some answers here because I would like to know what’s gotten into my tank. Thanks in advance!

 

[lapin]

My guess would be limpet but you said no, so I go with barnacle ?

 

[RedFrog211]

Based on the description, I’d guess chiton, but it’s missing the plates.. bump!

 

[redfishbluefish]

@KJ #reefsquad , yet another unknown hitchhiker.

 

[TriggerFinger]

They fit the description of and look like slipper limpets. What makes you say it’s not a limpet?

 

[unknown’nt]

They fit the description of and look like slipper limpets. What makes you say it’s not a limpet?

I have a few limpets roaming around and they look drastically different. This is like, clear with no tip and not in an oval-ish shape. It doesn’t move around...

 

[unknown’nt]

Based on the description, I’d guess chiton, but it’s missing the plates.. bump!

Yeah I got chitons in the depths of my rock that I’ve seen before... this boi built different lol

 

[unknown’nt]

My guess would be limpet but you said no, so I go with barnacle ?

Don’t barnacles usually have some sort of opening or mouth thing? These guys don’t move at all...

 

[TriggerFinger]

I have a few limpets roaming around and they look drastically different. This is like, clear with no tip and not in an oval-ish shape. It doesn’t move around...

Maybe these are juveniles? They look really darn close to the one suctioned to my astrea snail shell.
Regardless, it appears to be right up next to the coral tissue and doesn’t appear to be bothering it. If you notice the tissue receding then you might want to remove them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Keyhole limpet

 

[Tired]

Those look like young oysters to me. Totally harmless, leave them alone.

 

[unknown’nt]

Maybe these are juveniles? They look really darn close to the one suctioned to my astrea snail shell.
Regardless, it appears to be right up next to the coral tissue and doesn’t appear to be bothering it. If you notice the tissue receding then you might want to remove them.

I’ll keep an eye on any more that pop up and compare them. Thanks!

 

[Tired]

This is pretty much what you have, right? But yours are flatter? Oysters can have a very thin 'bottom' shell, as the rock provides all the shelter they need from that side. Slipper limpets are slightly 'taller', and have a smoother, more regular edge shape.

 

[unknown’nt]

T

This is pretty much what you have, right? But yours are flatter? Oysters can have a very thin 'bottom' shell, as the rock provides all the shelter they need from that side. Slipper limpets are slightly 'taller', and have a smoother, more regular edge shape.

That could be it. It looks similar in shape. I’ll do some more research into oysters and see what types exist. Thanks!

 

[KJ]

slipper limpet - Bing

Check out what I just created on Bing Image Creator

www.bing.com

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Or another possibility, try googling " jingle shell Anomia ".

 

[unknown’nt]

Or another possibility, try googling " jingle shell Anomia ".

That looks pretty much identical. Thanks!