FAQs on Chiton
Foods/Feeding/Nutrition
Related Articles: Chitons, Mollusks, Sea Slugs,
Related FAQs: Chitons
1, Chitons 2,& FAQs on:
Chiton Identification, Chiton Behavior, Chiton Compatibility, Chiton Selection, Chiton Systems, Chiton Disease, Chiton Reproduction & Mollusks, Sea
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Marine Snails 1, Marine Snails 2, Marine Snails 3,
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Chiton Diet/Mysis Distribution -
4/6/08 Hello again Crew, <Hi there, Random> I'm planning
on ordering a Detritivore Kit from a certain company and have heard
that such kits include Chitons and mysis shrimp. <Okay> 1. Do
Chitons eat macroalgae? <Depending on the species, yes, it's
possible. Of the herbivorous species (a few are carnivorous),
they'll reportedly eat film, filamentous, macro and coralline
algae, along with diatoms and possibly Cyanobacteria. These are all
scraped off of hard surfaces by way of a radula (tongue like organ with
rows of hardened teeth). I'd find out from the company exactly what
the diet is of the specific Chitons they offer. If you can get the
species name, that would be even better.> 2. I'm making a
biotope. Do mysis shrimp naturally exist in the Indo-Pacific? <Yes,
the species include Mysidopsis gibbosa, M. indica, and M. kempi.>
Well, that's it for now. <Okay> TIA, Random Aquarist
<You're very welcome. Take care, -Lynn>
Chitons eat coralline --
10/30/2007 A little while ago I sent y'all some pictures of
some large inter-tidal Chitons from Florida I have in my tank. I them
remember a query we had a little while ago asking if there were any
animals that eat coralline algae. <Oh yes... they do> We know
that some urchins and Chitons will eat it. And now I can tell you
(within a reasonable degree of certainty) that these Chitons eat
coralline algae too. I've been watching them chew little patterns
in it for a few weeks now. :-) Best, Sara <Danke.
BobF>
Name that Invert :) ...In six notes
or less: Chiton 5/23/07 Hi Crew
<Hi Jackie, Mich here!> I was hoping you could help me
identify this invert that I purchased. <Better to
ID first then purchase.> I am very new to reef keeping and
have been researching every animal that I have. This
one, I cannot find anywhere. It seems kind of like an
abalone in that it has 4 small holes on top of its back. <Hmm,
Chitons typically have eight.> However, it does
not have a shell. More like a leathery smooth
back. I am enclosing a pic, but I apologize it
isn't very good. This is what I have
observed. It is nocturnal. It is grayish,
brownish, green colored with dark brown stripes around it on the
fringe/feathery area (cerata?) below the mantle but above the
foot. Its shape is oblong with perhaps a bit of a
point on its rear end. It has two rhinophores
(striated bulbs I think). It spends almost all of its
time on the live rock, but sometimes ventures to the glass, stays
low in the tank anyway. I have not seen it on the
substrate ever. It can retract its head into its
mantle - when it is resting or frightened it pulls itself into
the mantle and appears more circular/oval in shape. It
can be somewhat flat (1/8th inch perhaps), but have noted a few
instances where the foot/ underside seems to almost inflate such
that it doubles in width. I have trouble thinking it
is a Nudibranch since all that I have seen suggest they are quite
colorful - this invert is almost hard to see when it's on the
rocks. It doesn't seem to have a shell even though
its top is smooth and seems thickish. Nothing else in
the tank bothers it. For the longest time it seemed to
spend all its day time resting in the crevice/cave that my Daum
reef lobster hangs out in during the day - oddly,
since the lobster is very possessive of it's lair and nothing
else seems to be able to even approach it without getting snapped
at. It seems to feed off the rocks/glass and I have
not seen it bother any snails or my crab or clowns. It
rests upside down almost exclusively. It is about two
inches long and about half inch across, eighth inch width I
guess. So I hope this helps you to help me find out
what this creature is. <I believe you have a
Chiton, though a limpet might also be a possibility, but I'm
leaning toward a Chiton. More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/chitonfaqs.htm
> What is its diet? <Chitons are
herbivores.> Where does it come from? <Chitons are found in
all seas.> I tried to find out more from where I got it at the
pet store but I am now doubtful of the knowledge of the staff
there since they also sold me a sand sifting tiger star and I
have neither the substrate depth or tank size to sustain it (I am
going to try to exchange it). <It is always best
to do your own research before making any
purchases. Unfortunately, sand sifting stars typically
starve to death in captivity.> My tank is 20
gallons. I have about 10 pounds live
rock. Aragonite substrate about 1.5
inches. Rio Nano Protein Skimmer. Aquaclear
hang on filter with foam and carbon inserts. Elite
hush hang on filter with BioMax in place of
cartridge. T5 Glo Daylight and Actinic
lighting. Tank occupants are Red Mithrax Emerald Crab,
Green Bubble Tip Anemone, <Mmm, I personally am not a big
anemone fan. They like to go for walks at the most
inopportune time, which can spell disaster, especially in such a
small system.> Daum's Reef Lobster (purple), <Should be
in a larger tank, closer to 50 gallons.> Two false Percula,
Sand Sifting Star, 3 Star Snails and one bumble bee snail that is
currently missing in action. Water parameters are all
good. <Vague.> Using RO. <Good.> Salinity
is 1.026. Temp is 80. Thanks for your help.
<Welcome! Please do get in the habit of researching
prior to purchasing. Mich> Jackie
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Re: Name that Invert :) ...In six notes or
less: Chiton 5/24/07 Hi Mitch <Hi
Jackie, Mich with you again.> Thank you for your prompt
reply. <Welcome!> Please know that I have
definitely learned a lot of (hard) lessons since setting up my reef
one month ago. Rest assured that I will never purchase
another animal for the tank that I haven't researched in
full. <Glad to hear!> I was just taking the
advice of the LFS staff who just said yes or no to compatibility
when I pointed to stuff in their show tanks. The
learning curve to marine tanks is steep. <Yes, there
is always something more to learn.> This site has been a
plethora of info for me. <And everyone else!> I agree that
the invert is likely a Chiton. <OK.> The thing
that bothered me about giving it that classification is that I
could not see eight holes on top and it does not have identifiable
plates. <Some look fleshy or leathery.> In fact
last night I think I saw more like what looked like a whorly type
of lineage on its mantle top. <Possible.> It was
on the front glass last night and I saw the bottom is very smooth
and very much like a Chiton. It has a fairly large
orifice for a mouth, with what looks like a red radula? <OK.>
Thanks for your help. <Welcome!> Water parameter
last nights test Nitrates and Ammonia are somewhat elevated at 5.0
and 0.25 respectively <Zero for both is optimal.> (I think
since I have been overfeeding in fear that the sand sifting star
will die before I can take it back) <Shouldn't starvation is
typically a slow death.> Nitrites 0.00 and pH
8.2. Temp 80. Salinity 1.025 Have
a bit of brown algae still and some of it is a bit like
hair. Substrate these days looks a bit littered with
rusty patches? <Nuisance algae, Likely
Cyano/BGA.> I feed HBH Flake Frenzy for the two false percula
and HBH Super Soft (about 5 pellets a day). Every other
day I give a quarter square of frozen Mysis shrimp. (Which I try to
squirt with a baster around the bubble tip) Too
much? <Does sound like a hefty amount for a twenty
gallon tank.> The clowns always look hungry. <My cats always
look hungry too, and will eat to the point of vomiting if
allowed.> A few other questions - I have the Master Saltwater
Test kit, which tests nitrates, nitrites, ammonia and
ph. What other tests should I purchase? <Likely
Calcium and Phosphate. Would consider other brand names
as well... more here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mtestbrands.htm
> Since I am now using RO water exclusively, what kind of
buffers do I need or do I? <pH/Alkalinity, Calcium more here and
related links in blue: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marphalk.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/alkalinity.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caalkadds.htm
> Thanks again! <Welcome again!> Happy fish
keeping.
<And to you! Mich>
Jackie |
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