What is this purple algae on my Snail?

[Joenumba104]

Anybody know what this algae is on my snail. I bought it from the LFS with about 10 other snails. This is the only one with this algae on it. If it's bad, should I remove it from my tank before it starts spreading?

 

[lpsouth1978]

Not bad and no reason to remove the snail. That is coraline algae. Eventually it will be all over the tank. That is what makes purple rocks purple. Your rocks will turn purple, other snails shells will look the same. Coraline growth in your system will be an indicator that things are stable, especially Alk and Cal. This snail has simply introduced it into your otherwise "sterile" system.

 

[Joenumba104]

Not bad and no reason to remove the snail. That is coraline algae. Eventually it will be all over the tank. That is what makes purple rocks purple. Your rocks will turn purple, other snails shells will look the same. Coraline growth in your system will be an indicator that things are stable, especially Alk and Cal. This snail has simply introduced it into your otherwise "sterile" system.

Thank you for letting me know. I really appreciate it!

 

[35ppt]

I don't see coralline I see some type of red turf algae. I would take the snail out, scrub the shell with a toothbrush, hit the shell with some hydrogen peroxide, and put him back in the tank. If there is some coralline on the shell, it wont be affected.

@Joenumba104 Does it look like this:

or this?:

 

[Joenumba104]

Thank you for letting me know. I really appreciate it!

These are close ups

 

[Joenumba104]

I don't see coralline I see some type of red turf algae. I would take the snail out, scrub the shell with a toothbrush, hit the shell with some hydrogen peroxide, and put him back in the tank. If there is some coralline on the shell, it wont be effected.

@Joenumba104 Does it look like this:

or this?:

i posted close up pictures a few moments ago

 

[35ppt]

These are close ups

Definitely not coralline. I would do as I outlined above.

 

[Joenumba104]

Definitely not coralline. I would do as I outlined above.

Thanks. I scrubbed him with hydrogen peroxide. The stuff didn't come off well and is mostly still there.

 

[35ppt]

Thanks. I scrubbed him with hydrogen peroxide. The stuff didn't come off well and is mostly still there.

That's to be expected. It should turn white and die off over the next day or so.

 

[Joenumba104]

Update, this snail no longer has any red turf algae thanks to 35ppt above.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like the very hard to remove purple turf which is like a brillo pad when it matures. In this early stage, tweezers may work best

 

[Joenumba104]

Looks like the very hard to remove purple turf which is like a brillo pad when it matures. In this early stage, tweezers may work best

Thanks, please see above. This has been solved.