Can a snail survive without a shell?

[johnvic]

I just noticed this sluggish creature on some rocks in my tank. Could it be a snail that exited its' shell? Is that possible?

 

[Deanos]

Search for stomatella varia

 

[johnvic]

Thanks!

 

[REEF ADDICT]

Hey i have those too...should i take them out...

 

[Dre]

I saw a large slug like creature on the glass last night sucking the life out of one of the snails in the tank..I turned on the light to capture it but it retreated very quickly into the rocks i don't know what it is but i do know i have to catch it.

 

[johnvic]

I googled them and they seem to be safe.

 

[SevTT]

Hey i have those too...should i take them out...

Naw. Sometimes you might want to thin the herd a bit for asthetic reasons, but they're great little snails that graze on algae and surface films, and they reproduce pretty quickly.

 

[Dre]

I just noticed this sluggish creature on some rocks in my tank. Could it be a snail that exited its' shell? Is that possible?

How big was it and did you get a pic of it?

 

[jarofsardines]

the stomatallas are good. my christmas wrasse will eat small ones.

as for the question i would say no, as the shell is part of the snails body, just like a shell is on a turtle.

 

[johnvic]

How big was it and did you get a pic of it?

he looked about 5/8" long tip to tail. I didn't get a picture.