is this a slug or a snail?

[luckylittleman]

This morning I turned on the tank lights and was messing with the powerhead. Underneath there was this slug looking thing.
It looked like a snail without a shell. If it would have been on a rock I would never see it.
It does have a tiny shell on the top of it, I supose it is for protection from preditors.

Is this thing reef safe?

[luckylittleman]

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[frederickk]

Hard to say from that pic, but if give it a shot I would say a slug. Do you have a closer pic.

[gillianandjoe]

He's fine, google stometella. Throw him back in.

[luckylittleman]

You guys were right! THAHKS

[kiknchikn]

Stomatella varias are great little snails to have around. If you have more than one they will breed often and build up an army of algae cleaners for free. Plus their spawning provides free food for the tank and they're fun to watch. They also, unfortunately, make a nice meal for crabs once in a while.

[luckylittleman]

Do you think it was a hitchicker? Were do you think a came from?

[kiknchikn]

Yeah they're hitch hikers that come in your live rock and sometimes macroalgae that you buy for your refugium. Once in a while you'll see someone selling them too, but that's kind of rare.

[Snowreefer]

I have about 20 in my tank they do a great job. They are also suprisingly fast. They can move for a slug. Once i week i see one spewing them out. LOL i'm gonna have more than i know what to do with soon.

[kiknchikn]

They're a snail not a slug lol.. if you look close they have a fingernail-like shell. For some reason their population never reaches plague proportions. I suspect the larger ones outcompete the babies and the babies die off.

Did you know when threatened they can release their tail like a lizard does? What neat creatures! :D

[luckylittleman]

Yeah... when I moved my powerhead & saw him, right away I went for a bowl. When I got back he was gone. He was already cruising down the glass!
I agree they are fast little suckers!