fuge invasion

[cmchap]

I have recently noticed an invasion within the fuge (a 20 gal. tank w/ southdown 3", chaeto, and halmedia macro). The intruders are soft bottomed which suction cling to the glass, yet have a crusty shell about there outside which seems to have a small hole within its center. They are oval in shape with larger ones close in size to your pinky fingernail but most about 1/2 that size. They have a gray shell about them and their bottomsides the fleshy part is bright white. I haven't any experience posting pics but am hopeful someone might be able to tell me what they are by the above description. Anyone have a guess as to what they are?

[Ruu]

They sound a bit like cap snails to me. Do they have antennae? Do they seem to come out mostly at night? If they are cap snails, they breed profusely, and are, in my opinion, just about the best algae controllers you can get, since after a few months they seem to settle into a population that can control algae growth, without you having to guess at your cleanup crew.

Dave

[ribs]

Only because you mentioned a "hole" on the top of their shells, check some of these pics of the shells of keyhole limpets (http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/keyhole_limpet/)
If that's them, here's a link to help to decide if you should do anything about them: limpets (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php)

[Mache62]

limpets are bad....very, very bad....I'll take them off your hands for you....j/k
I used to have a couple on my old fuge but lost them in a tank move I guess....they are definitely good guys

[Ruu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7800111#post7800111 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ribs
Only because you mentioned a "hole" on the top of their shells, check some of these pics of the shells of keyhole limpets (http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/keyhole_limpet/)
If that's them, here's a link to help to decide if you should do anything about them: limpets (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php)

The thing that made me think cap snails was the "invasion" bit. I've had some limpets (from some TBS rock) for years now, and while they are surviving and growing fine, I have never noticed them reproduce in any way. Either way though, if they are limpets or cap snails they aren't really anything to worry about.

Some pictures might be nice though, since otherwise we are all just guessing.

Dave

[cmchap]

having seen the pictures of the keyhole limpets and some other photos of Variegated Limpets I would have to say that they are in fact Limpets. I do not see them in my display tank but rather only in the fuge. Should I be concerned about them in any way. I don't have much in the way of corals just some Kenya and some green Star Polyps. In very short order however they have multiplied significantly within my fuge gripping the glass sides of the fuge tank. To better be safe than sorry, I removed a good number of them from my fuge plucking them and disposing of them until such time as I knew if they posed a threat. Should I seek to eradicate them?