ID of small snail

[zman676]

Hey everyone. Earlier today, I noticed a small white speck, about 1 cm wide, on the sponge of my pre-filter. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was a tiny snail with a white, spiral shaped shell.

Could this be a baby turbo or astrea snail? Or could it be one of those harmful hitchiker snails?

If I had a camera, I would post a picture, but I do not. I will try to borrow one, but for now, any advice would be good.

 

[flipturn88]

It sounds like either a tiny nerite snail (good) or possibly a pyramidellid (not good) - but the latter usually lives on a mollusk as a host for its parasitic needs. When you say spiral shaped, so you mean in the shape of a cone or more circular?

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I agree with Kayla. Is it rounded or pointed? The pointed are usually pyramellids which typically poarasitize mollusks (clams, snails, etc). The rounded ones are likely harmless detritavores. Any pics?

 

[zman676]

This little guy doesn't look like either of the specimens in Big D's pictures. The shell looks like a turbo shell, only a fraction of the size and all-white. I'll try to get a picture today if I can find him again!

 

[zman676]

Here are some pics I foudn onine that resemble the shape of the shell, mine is all-white however, and does not have the same coloration as these shells. Maybe a juvenile trait? Who knows...
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>

>

class="gc-images" title="s1.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="snailID1.JPG.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="snailID2.JPG.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[flipturn88]

Yep, it's a mini nerite (sometimes called mini turbo) snail - a good guy. They tend to come in as hitchhikers, and since you have one now, you'll probably have a lot within a few months, as they also tend to multiply readily in home aquaria.

I hope this helps!

 

[zman676]

Sweet!

Hey Kayla, shouldn't you be in school at 9:40 AM? Although I'm no better because I'm writing this post in the middle of psychology class...

Oh school...

 

[stroid]

thanks for posting this I recently spotted snails that look like this in my tank and they reproduce rapidly but I think they die quickly as well. Glad to know they are harmless.

 

[glxtrix]

yeah I have those guys ALL OVER my reef tank, they come out more at night....cute lil guys

 

[flipturn88]

zman676 wrote: Sweet!

Hey Kayla, shouldn't you be in school at 9:40 AM? Although I'm no better because I'm writing this post in the middle of psychology class...

Oh school...

Haha well... being a second semester senior has its, um, privileges. I'm in 3rd period ("crafts & design") @ 9:40 AM. Slack classes are fabulous.