zoa eating snail? (picture)

dmbnpj · #1 12/21/2005, 08:01 PM

Had a friend tell me this might be a zoa eating snail, and as you can tell from the picture that might be a problem.

I dont know how to draw lines on pictures so I dont know how to circle it. The snail Im worried about is right in the center of the picture. It is about 3 inches directly above the highest nassarius snail in the picture. There are actually 2 of them near each other.

rock455 · #2 12/21/2005, 08:04 PM

doesn't look like a zoa eating snail to me - looks like nassarus

dmbnpj · #3 12/21/2005, 08:19 PM

not the black snail. above that. its about the size of a pea and its white with red lines on it. its on the rock with the coraline behind it. you have to look closely

Snakebyt · #4 12/21/2005, 08:20 PM

Zoa eating snail AKA sundial snail

Snakebyt · #5 12/21/2005, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dmbnpj
not the black snail. above that. its about the size of a pea and its white with red lines on it. its on the rock with the coraline behind it. you have to look closely

Looks like it.. get it out of there if i were you

rock455 · #6 12/21/2005, 08:24 PM

Do you have turbos in the tank?

Ron S. · #7 12/21/2005, 08:27 PM

There is a small turbo type snail that looks alot like the sundial snail. The sundial snails have a kind of a point at the opening of the shell.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...01#post5245201

dmbnpj · #8 12/21/2005, 08:54 PM

yes i have turbos

fakename · #9 12/21/2005, 08:57 PM

You need to pull them out and have a look at the snails operculum (the bit of shell you see when it closes). If it is conical, the snail is a sundial and needs to be removed forthwith!
Cheers,
Aaron

rock455 · #10 12/21/2005, 08:59 PM

Keep in mind it could be a baby turbo -- that is what they look like -- take a close look! have you been seeing zoas dissappear?

dmbnpj · #11 12/21/2005, 09:07 PM

I took one out of the tank. My camera cant zoom in, this is the best it will get.

Dubbin1 · #12 12/21/2005, 09:44 PM

Nope not a sundial snail. It is a harmless Collonista snail that munches on algae and doesn't get much bigger then that.

Paintbug · #13 12/21/2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dubbin1
Nope not a sundial snail. It is a harmless Collonista snail that munches on algae and doesn't get much bigger then that.

correct!

supernareg · #14 12/21/2005, 10:51 PM

looks like a zoo eater.. how do u knwo its not? looks VERY VERY similar

Paintbug · #15 12/21/2005, 11:09 PM

Collonista shells are much smoother, and operculum (the flap that seals the shell) on them is smooth and almost clear. the operculum on the sundail is cone shaped.

heres a great article on grazing snails http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php

Dubbin1 · #16 12/21/2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by supernareg
looks like a zoo eater.. how do u knwo its not? looks VERY VERY similar

No it doesn't and because

ohioreef · #17 12/22/2005, 02:22 AM

Good call, Dwayne!!

I agree that it looks like a collonista.

coyoteseven · #18 12/22/2005, 12:17 PM

I've got dozens of the little collonistas in my tanks, just like the pic taken by dmbnpj (some a little lighter, some a little darker in color)... I also have zoas growing like weeds!

Like Dubbin 1 said, there is a BIG difference in the appearance. The sundial's (zoa muncher) shell, for lack of a better term, appears 'beady' with alternating dark/light stripes. On the other hand, the collonista's (algae muncher) shell, is smooth with alternating dark/light stripes.

Here are some other pics of the two for comparison from Melev's ID site :

Sundail (BAD GUY/Zoa Munching) Snail

Collonista (GOOD GUY/Algae Munching) Snail... under the much larger Astrea Snail

SuperNerd · #19 12/24/2005, 04:37 AM

Ditto. Tis a collonista.