FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification 50 Related Articles: Marine Invertebrates, Marine Invertebrate Systems, Marine Invertebrate Compatibility, Marine Invertebrate Disease, Marine Invertebrate Reproduction, Quarantine of Corals and Invertebrates, Feeding Reef Invertebrates, Lighting Marine Invertebrates, Water Flow, How Much is Enough, Related FAQs: Non-Vert IDs 1, Non-Vert IDs 2, Non-Vert IDs 3, Non-Vert IDs 4, Non-Vert IDs 5, Non-Vert IDs 6, Non-Vert IDs 7, Non-Vert IDs 8, Non-Vert IDs 9, Non-Vert IDs 10, Non-Vert IDs 11, Non-Vert IDs 12, Non-Vert IDs 13, Non-Vert IDs 14, Non-Vert IDs 15, Non-Vert IDs 16, Non-Vert IDs 17, Non-Vert IDs 18, Non-Vert. ID 19, Non-Vert. ID 20, Non-Vert. ID 21, Non-Vert. ID 22, Non-Vert. ID 23, Non-Vert. ID 25, Non-Vert ID 26, Non-Vert ID 27, Non-Vert ID 28, Non-Vert ID 29, Non-Vert ID 30, Non-Vert ID 31, Non-Vert ID 32, Non-Vert 33, Non-Vert ID 34 Non-Vert ID 35, Non-Vert ID 36, Non-Vert ID 37, Non-Vert ID 38, Non-Vert ID 39, Non-Vert ID 40, Non-Vert ID 41, Non-Vert ID 42, Non-Vert ID 43, Non-Vert ID 44, Non-Vert ID 45, Non-Vert ID 46, Non-Vert ID 47, Non-Vert ID 48, Non-Vert ID 49, Non-Vert ID 51, Non-Vert ID 52, Non-Vert ID 53, Non-Vert ID 54, Non-Vert ID 55, Non-Vert ID 56, Non-Vert ID 57, Non-Vert ID 58, Non-Vert ID 59, Non-Vert ID 60, Non-Vert ID 61, & Marine Invertebrates, Marine Invert.s 2, Marine Invert.s 3, & FAQs about: Marine Invertebrate Behavior, Marine Invertebrate Compatibility, Marine Invertebrate Selection, Marine Invertebrate Systems, Feeding Reef Invertebrates, Marine Invertebrate Disease, Marine Invertebrate Reproduction, & & LR Life Identification, LR Hitchhiker ID 1, Anemone Identification, Aiptasia Identification, Aiptasia ID 2, Worm Identification, Tubeworm ID, Polychaete Identification, Snail Identification, Marine Crab Identification, Marine Invert.s 1, Marine Invert.s 2, Marine Plankton,

Help with identifying unknown snail?? Invert., SW... 1/25/10
<Hello Blaire, Lynn here today.>
I've had my aquarium for about 6 months now. About 2 months ago I bought some live rock from someone who was parting out their tank. Needless to say I brought in all sorts of new life forms.
<Neat>
There were a bunch of tiny pretty snails, pods, bristleworms, even some neat looking mini anemones I couldn't identify that my Klein's has since ate. (They weren't Aiptasia). There's one thing I can't seem to identify though. It's about 3/4", slightly more oblong than round, and very dark blue in color. If the light isn't directly on it, it looks black. It does not have an actual hard shell, and I can only say "snail" because it has a snail's head with antennas. The "shell" is soft and flexible (like the body of a ray), and it is very slow moving. I can't really get a pic of it as I only see it a couple times a week and it's always between rocks, never out in the open. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
<Hmmm, there are many possibilities. An animal with antennae but no visible shell could be some sort of sea slug, Nudibranch, Polyclad flatworm, or even a Scutus unguis (aka the 'Ducksbill Limpet'). Soft and ray-like sounds more like a flatworm or some sort of slug or Nudibranch, rather than a Scutus spp. but it's worth looking into. Scutus unguis actually has a white shell, but it's usually covered by the animal's deep black mantle. It's possible that under certain lighting, the flexible black mantle could appear bluish. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful but there are just too many possibilities. Here are some links that will hopefully help narrow things down a bit.
Nudibranchs: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudibran.htm
Sea Slugs: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seaslugsopisthobranchs.htm
Polyclad Flatworms (see Pseudoceros sapphrinus): http://www.wetwebmedia.com/WormPIX/FlatwormPIX/Flatworms2.htm
Scutus Unguis: http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/scutus
Please let me know if you need any additional help. I know a picture sounds impossible, but if you get lucky, send it along!>
Thank you, Blaire
<You're very welcome. Take care, LynnZ>
Re: Help with identifying unknown snail?? Scutus Unguis - 1/25/10
Hi Lynn,
<Hi Blaire.>
Thank you so much for your help!
<You're welcome!>
I looked it up and it's a Duckbill Limpet.
<Neat little creatures.>
All the little life forms that pop up are such treasures and I make it a
point to find out what they are and what their needs are. Maybe you could answer one more question for me? I have a Harlequin shrimp (what a beauty!) and would like to know if there is anything I could add to my tank that would dispose of the leftovers of the starfish he eats? I've asked my LFS guys and they say my clean up crew should take care of it but they don't. These little white pieces are adding up quick and I can't get to them to siphon them out. Any suggestions??
<If you don't already have hermits, I'd recommend getting some Nassarius snails. They're terrific little scavengers that stay hidden within the substrate then erupt en mass when they smell food. They also have the added advantage of stirring the sand up a bit as they move around. You could try either Nassarius vibex, a small species (usually less than 1/2") or the larger (up to ~1') Nassarius distortus, frequently called 'Super Tongan' Nassarius snails. Both are commonly available on the 'net and elsewhere. Avoid any snail sold as Nassarius obsoleta. It's actually Ilyanassa obsoleta, a smallish brown snail that comes from cooler waters and lives accelerated/shortened lives in the higher temperatures of our reef systems. Another possibility, if you already have hermits (and you like them), is to add a few more. I'm not a big fan because of their tendency to pick at beneficial sessile livestock/fauna, rob corals of food and occasionally kill snails but it's up to you. It just depends on what you want to keep. Please see the following links for photos of the various Nassarius species, as well as the Ilyanassa obsoleta snail that you'll want to avoid!
Nassarius vibex: http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_1930.shtml
Nassarius distortus: http://www.gastropods.com/9/Shell_3309.shtml
Ilyanassa obsoleta: http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_3305.shtml >
Thanks again, Blaire
<It was a pleasure. Take care, LynnZ>

Please Help With ID/Hitchhikers 1/23/10 Dear WWM Crew, <Joe> First thanks for all the great info contained on the site. I've been using it for years and it wasn't until now that I had to actually mail in with a question!! Thanks again! <You're welcome and glad you enjoy/learn from it.> So, now to the ID. I have attached a pic. These little orange guys have infested my tank. It is a new set-up and I have recently added livestock and cleaning crew. Following the cycle was an enormous hair algae bloom. Now the algae has mostly died off and given way to these guys in the picture. They love the live rock and are occasionally found on the glass. There aren't any on the substrate. Would you kindly point me in the right direction with this one? <Well Joe, being the photo isn't resolved/clear enough to determine exactly, I'm going to guess these are tunicates (Sea Squirts), quite harmless filter feeders, and generally not long lived.> Thanks, <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)> Joe

Mmm, maybe flatworms?

ID Reading Salty Dog's "Please Help With ID/Hitchhikers 1/23/10", 1/25/2009 I think they are orange flatworms rather than tunicates. Andy B. <Heee! Do agree with you Mr. Bulgin... see here: http://wetwebmedia.com/nonvertIDF49.htm BobF>

Orange creature 1/18/10 Dear Crew, I found this little orange creature stuck on an Ulva leaf. Any idea what it might be? I have tried searching, but to no avail. Thank you so much for your help. best, Vivian <Ahh! A beautiful image of a gorgeous colony of Ascidians. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm Testimony to your good/careful husbandry... Bob Fenner>

Re: orange creature 1/19/10 awesome!! thanks! my aquarium never ceases to amaze me. Best acquisition ever! life is beautiful.... <Indeed. BobF>

What are these? 12/20/09
Greetings to Bob and everyone at WWM!
<Howdy Jamie>
I've written so much recently that I feel like you are an old friend. I hope you don't mind the familiar tone in my writing.
<Not at all. You are a stranger here but once>
Here are two "What am I?" questions that I hope you find interesting!
1. I was looking into my fallow tank one night and saw this long black tubular thing that was about half an inch peeking out from one of my live rocks, slowly, I saw what seems like the soft body of a solid black Nudibranch about a little more than an inch total length, then I realized that it is not a Nudi, but something else as it does not have the "lungs" that sticks up on its back. What it does has is this white tear drop spot, that "opens and shuts". It has a soft, algae eating mouth. What is it? See first picture.
<This is a type of Snail, Limpet... of the genus Scutus. See here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/Limpets%20Scutus/LimpetF1.htm>
2. I had just completed a 7 minute pH and temperature matched fresh water dip on my newly acquired Achilles Tang. I was getting ready to dump out the dip water when I thought, "humm...lets take a look at it!" I've read that you can find all sorts of stuff in the dip water. On the bottom, I see several little flat creatures, each about 1/6 inch, almond shaped except that it is tapered at both ends, that are outlined in two gray "rings". At first I thought they were "scales" from the AT, but laughed at myself as I remembered that tangs have very very fine scales and that's why they are so susceptible to ich. They remind me of fish lice I've had on my Koi fishes many years ago. What is it? See second picture. This Achilles Tang has been at my LFS for around 6 weeks, they treat weekly with formaldehyde.
<I think these may be flukes (Trematodes)... fallen off from the Dip/Formaldehyde exposure>
I hope you enjoy these as much as me finding them!
Have a wonderful holiday!
Jamie Barclay
<And you and yours. BobF>

Re: What are these? 12/20/09 Happy Sunday Bob! Thanks for your reply! <Welcome Jamie> I hope that Scutus Limpet multiplies in my tank. It is really cute. I thought I saw a picture of it during my daily readings of WWM several months ago but couldn't find it again. I see that little guy out consistently around 10 PM after the metal halides go out. It is a really neat creature. <Ah yes> The flukes from the AT, YUCK-O! Gives me goose bumps! I did not do a formaldehyde dip, only pH and temp adjusted fresh water. Should I do another dip? Either formaldehyde or fresh? <Mmm... am wanting to choose my words carefully here. IF the fish doesn't appear "too" malaffected, I would not do the dip/bath. Likely these "Flukes" are digenetic... have a complex life cycle (requiring other host/s)... and will die out, do little harm; perhaps less than further handling the fish/host itself... Unless this specimen "really" itches and scratches a bunch, I would leave it be> So a follow-up questions from our correspondence a week or so ago... All my fishes are in quarantine from that recent ich outbreak. They've all done well with Quinine Sulphate treatment of 10 days. It's been one week now and there is no signs of ich that I can see, some scratching behavior with my Atlantic Tang and less with the Powder Blue. Should I be planning on prophylatically treat with Quinine Sulphate again and/or should I fresh water dip them prior to reintroduction to the DT? <The latter> Many thanks to YOU and your crew! <Welcome> It is so wonderful for me and many others to have someone who is so knowledgeable to turn to. You and WWM make learning about aquatic life fun and interactive. I have to honestly say that you and your team have been THE force for my success with reef keeping! Thank You Thank You Thank YOU! <Ahh! A pleasure to share, and indeed enlivening to realize our useful help to others> I've enclosed a picture of a few of the fishes who THANK YOU for their lives! It's not the best of pictures but it shows them 2 days after the 10 day QS treatment. Best Regards to You! Jamie <And you, BobF>

Unknown ID, No Pic -- 12/16/2009
Hi,
<Hey Sara, JustinN here!>
I was just wondering if you could help me with some new critters that have appeared on my glass.
<Mmm, not likely without a picture to assist, but will try.>
They're circular in shape, a little bigger than the tip of a ball point pen, and opaque. Tentacles that move like an anemone. Could they be Aiptasia spores?
<Not likely, in my opinion>
I do have one Aiptasia in my tank, and I've seen babies before, but they've had more of a "stalk" shape.
<My thoughts exactly -- Aiptasia has a distinctive appearance -- the stalk is a big part of the morphology.>
These critters are flat (well they seem flat maybe because they are so small).
<Likely perspective/size>
Any ideas?
<Without a picture, its very much a shot in the dark, but if I had to guess, I would assume hydroids. Have a read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoanfaqs.htm and related subheadings.>
Thanks,
Sara
<Do send along a quality picture, if possible -- this will aide in identification. Good luck! -JustinN>

Re: Unknown ID, No Pic -- 12/16/2009
Justin,
<Sara>
I found out what they were, through the use of your website (which is amazing by the way)
They are Staurocladia/hydromedusae.
<Excellent! My theory was on par... I tend to not be the best on the identification front, so that makes me happy :)>
Also found that I have Munnid isopods and Corallimorphs...again, why your website is so amazing.
Thanks again!
Sara
<Glad we could help! -JustinN>

Re: Carpet/throw rug (RMF, anything to add?)<<Yes. Return this animal ASAP. RMF>>Whacky< 11/29/09
I have another question. I found this odd snaily looking creature going across the glass when I shut the lights off. Its a white color and has what looks like a spine in the middle of its rounded body. Its really strange. Thanks in advance.
<What? BobF>

Identification -- 11/09/2009 I attached a pic of a creature I found at Fort Myers Beach in Fl. I did not keep it, as it was alive, I put it back into the water after taking the pic. Do you know what it is? I also saw some small brown colored star fish in the same vicinity. thank you Donna <Mmm, yep. Tis a Brittlestar. Bob Fenner>

Please help me identify 11/8/09 Good morning, I found this wiggly white substance on the front glass of our 40 gallon reef tank. It looks to be some sort of skin left behind from a worm. We have seen it several times in the back of the tank. We were able to take a picture today and send it to you for your expert opinion. Thanks in advance, Linda Toubeaux <Mmm, snail eggs Linda. Please see here: http://wetwebmedia.com/snailreprofaq2.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Can You Identify These Creatures in My Refugium? Harmless Bivalves -- 10/22/09 Hi, <Hello, Lynn here today.> ..recently I noticed some creatures in my 30 gal refugium. Can you identify them? <No worries, they're harmless, filter-feeding bivalves. For more information on these neat little creatures, please see the following links (as well as the related links at the top of each page): http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bivalvia.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bividfaqs.htm > Pics are below: Thank you <You're very welcome. Take care, LynnZ>