Sundial or collonista snails ?

[ChrisB]

For the past month some of my Zoa frags and colony's have been not opening fully . I dipped a colony and found lil snails that fell off in dip. This morning I took out a frag and manually removed more . The zoas don't look physically damaged just annoyed. Here is the best pic I could get.

 

[rookie07]

I cant see a pic (reefs app)

 

[ChrisB]

Best pic i could take.

 

[rookie07]

Cant tell. Doesnt look like sundial but cant really see any detail, so ID is tough.

 

[jgraz]

First pic is def a colonista. The sundial have that little cone shaped door that closes it inside the shell.
Check out this thread from Melev
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5245201#post5245201

 

[ecvernon]

Looks like colonista snails. When the lights are off I have hundreds of them. Do you see them around on live rock and glass during lights out?
I have had sundial snails also they get much larger than colonista snails.

 

[ChrisB]

I will pay attention at night . But these are what's been hangin on my zoas. Should I try and remove them ?

 

[jgraz]

They are probably just hanging on the rock under the zoas.

 

[ChrisB]

I was just worried that they were doing dmg.

 

[ChrisB]

Ok I checked tank last night I and yes I see the snails on the rocks and they are the Collonista snail. I also noticed some digitate hydroid how to I get rid of them ?

 

[jgraz]

Good to hear that you confirmed the colonistas. Personally I think they are a great snail. I notice that as my other snails thin out these increase. They do a fantastic cleaning job and hide during the day unlike those horrible dwarf Ceriths that look horrible all over the glass.

The hydroids seem to increase and decrease with feedings. My old nano had a ton and I could never gain a foothold on them till I replaced my sand bed where they seemed to be mostly.

 

[ChrisB]

I Just removes some of the hydroids with tweezers , Hopefully they are not stinging my corals etc . Thanks for the help.