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MelanieF

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Hiya,

Just wanted to share this little experience w/ you all. Two nights ago I had to get to sleep early so I turned the 20 gal. tank lights off so I could get some observations in before bed.

Within 2 minutes of lights out I noticed at least 20 little things on one piece of live rock that resembled a wood louse. They were all sticking their rear ends up in the air. Some were releasing a gazillion eggs and others were releasing a "milky substance". I started panicking not knowing what these things were and seeing that they were reproducing like crazy.

I checked out the hitchhikers section here and found out that these little "aliens" are what is called a Chiton. Found out they are a good thing to have. (sigh of relief) Anyway, seems I must have triggered their reproductive stage by turning the lights off early. I'll have to try doing that a few times a year. Who knows what else might happen...

Thank you Reefs.org! You guys/gals rule!

Melanie
 
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That's great. Ouyt of curiosity, were your lights on a timer daily, before you turned them off early? What is your light cycle? And how mature is your tank?

It's always nice to have food reproduce in your tank. :D
 
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Anonymous

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What you describe doesn't sound like chitons, although I don't doubt whatever it is was reproducing. Chitons tend to be reallly slow, much larger than a wood louse, and usually not found in such great numbers. Do you have any pics of them?
 

MelanieF

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Dood,

Yes, tank was on a timer schedule.
Light cycle - 50/50 flour. on 12:30 pm to 12:30 am / 10,000K flour. on 1:00 pm to 12:00 midnight.

My 20 gallong long reef is 3 months old. Check my most recent posts via my profile for more details on inhabitants.


Matt,

According to a link to an article by Ron Shimek here which shows photos of chiton, that is exactly what's in my tank. The only issue I'm having right now is what variation they are. I'm in the process of surfing for a picture replicating the off white pattern mine have now... I was scared of what these things could be so I had turned the lights back on and watched them. They did move very slowly but since the rock they are on/in is so porous they didn't have to travel more than 3cm to be gone again so I guess that explains why they were covering it within 2 minutes of lights out.

If I find an exact picture online I will put the link in here for everyone.
 

mandible

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Hi,
I saw something similar in my tank but with stomatella, rather than chitons

they look like chitons but their bodys are longer and slug like, their shell isn't armadillo like, but is a flat thin swirl (like a crushed snail :D )

there pics in the hitchhikers guide in the library
 
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Anonymous

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Interesting. I'll take your word for it on the ID. I've never heard of such behavior. I always assumed polyplacophorans (fancy name for chitons) were egg laying, not free spawners, but I've never read anything either way.
 
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Anonymous

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I want to see the link! :mrgreen:

I am under the impression the Chitons can't waggle their butts.
 

MelanieF

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I hope this works... If so the following picture shows 2 chitons. The one on the left represents the ones in my tank. They look exactly like that. Information says they only get 13mm which would imply the ones I have are pretty much full grown.

Still trying to find you a photo of waggling butts... :wink:
 

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