Is there such a thing as a snail without a shell?

[trainfever]

Bought some new live rock tonight. It was rubble rock to do some fragging. I had the rock in a small fishbowl to keep wet for the time being and I noticed some movement. I looked closer and saw what I first thought was a snail. It is about 1/2" and moves slow like a snail, it even has a brownish color like a snail but it does not have a hard shell. I then found another much smaller one. It also has antennae like a snail. Any idea what these could be?

 

[mudplayerx]

Could be a nudibranch or flatworm. I would get rid of them. Some of them eat corals.

 

[trainfever]

This may be a dumb question but is a flatworm flat? because these things are not flat.

 

[devilboy]

maybe a stomatella varia??

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by DevilBoy
maybe a stomatella varia??
Thats what I was leaning towards. Not bad to have.

 

[mdog30001]

ive seen some snails that their skin grows over their shell, so maybe you have one of those.

 

[trainfever]

OK, so what is Stomatella Varia?

 

[fisherson]

I have the same thing look close and see if it has a small shell towards his head. He wears it like a hat mine just grazes the algea all day.

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by trainfever
Bought some new live rock tonight. It was rubble rock to do some fragging. I had the rock in a small fishbowl to keep wet for the time being and I noticed some movement. I looked closer and saw what I first thought was a snail. It is about 1/2" and moves slow like a snail, it even has a brownish color like a snail but it does not have a hard shell. I then found another much smaller one. It also has antennae like a snail. Any idea what these could be?

I have about 3 or 4 in a 20 G. I think the are shellless snails. I am pretty sure becasue I have empty shells that were not there before. I assumed the snails died but then I found these "slugs". They really come out in the dark. Try it. So, I went to the beach and picked up some extra shells and created a bone yard but I don't think I have any takers yet.
Mc

 

[devilboy]

here is a photo of a stomatella snail....photo courtesy of Tizzo

 

[95hatch]

I think they sound like stomatella, melves reef has alot of good photos for id'ing reef inhabitants.

 

[bigarn]

Sounds like a stomatella varia to me also .... harmless algae grazers and good additions.