Logo
Please visit our Sponsors
FAQs on Chiton Identification 4

Related Articles: Chitons, Mollusks, Sea Slugs,

Related FAQs: Chiton ID 1, Chiton ID 2, Chiton ID 3, & Chitons 1, Chitons 2, & FAQs on: Chiton Behavior, Chiton Compatibility, Chiton Selection, Chiton Systems, Chiton Feeding, Chiton Disease, Chiton Reproduction & Mollusks, Sea Slugs, Sea Slugs, Marine Snails 1, Marine Snails 2, Marine Snails 3,

Purple rolly poly creature    6/7/18
Hi Crew!
<Hi Dani>
Found this hitchhiker while I was aquascaping. It is less than a quarter of an inch and resembles a rolly poly bug.
<Ah yes, this is a mollusk of the class Polyplacophora, commonly known as Chiton or sea cradle, they have shells made up of eight overlapping calcareous valves; usually found on every environment, pose no threat to other aquarium inhabitants as they are algae eaters, always crawling over the glass or rockwork grazing for film algae and diatoms, so they can be use as part of the clean up crew.>
What I found most remarkable was his extremely bright purple color—like neon bright kind of purple! I let him be in the tank. Figured I’d share, just in case you haven’t come across this before, although you probably have lol.
<Thanks for sharing>
Sincerely, Dani Conner
<Wilberth.>


Chiton?      2/9/18
Identification help, please.
<Umm; the little whitish object towards the middle? Looks like it. Bob Fenner>

crop

Re: re: Chiton?      2/9/18
Yes, they are very tiny. Like 1/8th of an inch.
<Wow!>
Circled in attached
<There are some small species of Polyplacophorans, but these are likely just juveniles. See WWM re.
BobF>

Become a Sponsor Features:
Daily FAQs FW Daily FAQs SW Pix of the Day FW Pix of the Day New On WWM
Helpful Links Hobbyist Forum Calendars Admin Index Cover Images
Featured Sponsors: