Stomatella - Cool defence mechanism

[Acronic]

Found a big honkin' stomatella snail in the sump next to the skimmer intake. I didn't want it to foul the pump so I decided to take it out and put it in the DT. I used a plastic card to let him walk onto and as I pulled it out of the water I heard this "POP" and he split himself in half and left a waging "tail" behind like a lizard would when in danger... So cool, I had no idea they did that.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/salvini55/IMG_2458.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/salvini55/IMG_2463.jpg

and an after shot of him in the DT fine and dandy

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/salvini55/IMG_2465.jpg

[Ostara]

I just love how it looks like a hunk of phlegm coughed up by someone with a chest infection. /hurk

That is pretty cool though. How long did the snot- er, tail- continue to wiggle around? I wonder what preys upon them that they need such a thing. I have an infestation of these in one of my tanks and I would looove to find out what eats them before they starve off and cause an algae bloom or something.

[Bretts05jeep]

I just love how it looks like a hunk of phlegm coughed up by someone with a chest infection. /hurk

That is pretty cool though. How long did the snot- er, tail- continue to wiggle around? I wonder what preys upon them that they need such a thing. I have an infestation of these in one of my tanks and I would looove to find out what eats them before they starve off and cause an algae bloom or something.

Just get your self a oenone fulgida worm that should take care of them :lmao:

[sushibug]

I just love how it looks like a hunk of phlegm coughed up by someone with a chest infection. /hurk

That is pretty cool though. How long did the snot- er, tail- continue to wiggle around? I wonder what preys upon them that they need such a thing. I have an infestation of these in one of my tanks and I would looove to find out what eats them before they starve off and cause an algae bloom or something.

although they are ugly, they are beneficial/harmless. so i wouldn't call it an infestation..

[tebstan]

I tried harvesting some to give to a friend and I saw the defense mechanism! No one else seemed to have heard of it. Don't people play with their snails? Geez.

The bum end only wiggled around for a few seconds. Just long enough for the snail to scoot away. So cool!

[Acronic]

Ya his bum end wiggled for about a minute, in the second pic picture that piece waving back and forth slowly. When I took the photo it had already stopped. I guess people don't really see stomatella snails often let alone play with them lol.