Stomatella varia: Do they shed the shell?

[rookie07]

I just found the shell of a Stomatella varia. Now, I have no predators of these snails..and they have flourished in my tank. But I came home today, after a long weekend, and there was a shell...it is very pretty underneth, kind of like mother of pearl....I will post a pic soon, one day or two...

LMK what you all think.

PS. I suppose it could have died of old age, the shell was large.

 

[bad coffee]

yep. as far as I know all snails keep their shells. Until they die of natrual or unnatural causes (like hermit crabs eyeing them up for a new home)

I'll take some stomatellas off your hands if you need to get rid of some. I used to have this florescent orange one that I'd see once in a while. Kinda cool.

B

 

[mandown123]

what is the advantage of having these snails? do they consume algae? i am interested as well in taking a few off your hands/buying some

 

[LongIslandAndy]

These snails do lose their shells, try and pick one up the shell comes off in your hand.I have seen them many times with no shell. They are good and eat detritus. They also multiple like crazy in reefs

 

[Seadog09]

stomatella

I had 1 big for a while it disappear or died and now i have a bunch of smaller one's all over the place. They are great

 

[rookie07]

I have only seen them eating algea(but they might eat detrius)...I have dozens of white, and dozens of black ones....they are free to anyone who wants them...but I would appreciate a frag of something in exchange, but nothing is required...

I have counted up to 20 at one time, on the glass of my tank. So, I figure I have well over 50 of them in all....

some fish do eat them...wrasse's, etc...just a heads up to anyone who wants them....

PM if interested

 

[rookie07]

Long Island andy.....I have seen them "shed" the tail when trying to escape danger...but never seen the shell come off.....But im not an expert by any means...just my observations

 

[Eznet2u]

I used to have this florescent orange one that I'd see once in a while. Kinda cool.

B

Man, talk about a coincidence... This morning I posted this on my local board...

I was wondering what it was...I had never seen a florescent Orange one before... Small world.

 

[rookie07]

eznet2u: Awesome...I was wondering what an orange one looks like, thanks

 

[bad coffee]

yep. that's the one!

btw, what's your local board?

 

[chazertis]

awesome orange one! different species or depends on what he is eating? (hes got a super secret stash somewhere?) =)

 

[lfsmarineguy]

They don't eat detritus, just algae and I've heard diatoms even. If the shell came off it's because it was ripped off. They don't shed them in defense....that would defeat the purpose of the shell. They will lose a portion of the foot in order to flee. They also reproduce quickly and in large numbers, most of our reef tanks are heavily populated. I'd assume the orange ones are a genetic aberration since if it was a species I'd assume they would show up in greater numbers in the tank. Maybe an albino type gene.

 

[kool-cat]

I'll take some off you hands.

 

[rookie07]

They don't eat detritus, just algae and I've heard diatoms even. If the shell came off it's because it was ripped off. They don't shed them in defense....that would defeat the purpose of the shell. They will lose a portion of the foot in order to flee. They also reproduce quickly and in large numbers, most of our reef tanks are heavily populated. I'd assume the orange ones are a genetic aberration since if it was a species I'd assume they would show up in greater numbers in the tank. Maybe an albino type gene.

Thanks, and interesting theory

 

[rookie07]

I have only seen them eating algea(but they might eat detrius)...I have dozens of white, and dozens of black ones....they are free to anyone who wants them...but I would appreciate a frag of something in exchange, but nothing is required...

I have counted up to 20 at one time, on the glass of my tank. So, I figure I have well over 50 of them in all....

some fish do eat them...wrasse's, etc...just a heads up to anyone who wants them....

PM if interested

uhh...last line dude!

 

[Eznet2u]

...btw, what's your local board?

http://www.cvreefers.org

I use the same handle on there, RC, Reeffrontiers, well basically all of them.
I like MR because you guys have like a million posts a day. I like to read.

Hey Badcoffee, Sorry to hear about the Boob thing...
:funnypost