What is this?

[EdSnyder]

This thing came out at night the other night. I have never seen this guy. Pretty cool that I can find something new after about 4 months without adding anything new.
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz210/Edsnyder-photo2009/Whatisthis_1_4.jpg


Since we are playing the ID game, I have had this urchin for a long time, I was just wondering what kind he was and if he is ok to keep. He is getting big fast.
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz210/Edsnyder-photo2009/IMG_7444_2_4.jpg

[bunzaroo]

I think that is a cone snail. If it is be careful they are predators. Look up cone snails.

[EdSnyder]

Good call. Not sure if that is him, but I am not taking any chances. I only saw him for a few seconds, he did look like a snail but he seemed to have a clear jelly like covering over him.

[greenbean36191]

It's not a cone snail. It's a peppermint snail. They're scavengers and predators of very small animals. They're harmless in a tank.

[sra127]

looks like stomatella snail to me.....

[Sugar Magnolia]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15625628#post15625628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sra127
looks like stomatella snail to me..... :confused: It looks nothing like a stomatella. Greenbean is right - I have some in my tank and got the same ID a few months back. Peppermint snail. Mine are much smaller and I only see them occasionally when the lights come on. They eat my collonista snails. ;) There's not much else in the tank that is small enough for them to prey on.

[bizzleb01]

Looks like a rock boreing urchin to me. They eat corraline algae and can put holes in rocks as the name states. I could be wrong though.

[BlueTangarang]

Definitely will mow down your coralline. Consider these guys to be bulldozers, any coral or rock formation not securely tied down is fair game for these guys to wreck havoc on. At least in my experience. Good for the sump.

[EdSnyder]

Thanks for all the replies! So the urchin has to go and the snail can stay. Bummer I was starting to grow fond of the urchin. I have not had any problems with anything getting knocked over. And whats so bad about him eating coralline?

[noahm]

I would keep the urchin until he becomes too large and a nuisance. They are pretty cool critters. They will become troublesome as they get bigger just because of the bulldozer issue.

[EdSnyder]

Cool, I really want to keep him.


Photobucket is fun!
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz210/Edsnyder-photo2009/Idontknow_1_1.jpg
What are these?
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz210/Edsnyder-photo2009/Pretty_2_1.jpg
and a FTS
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz210/Edsnyder-photo2009/Fts_3_1.jpg