Snail with strange shell...

[jigga w00t]

I think there's 2 of these in my tank. Seem to be algae eaters, but I just want to make sure. The part where the shell comes to a point on its back is used to get rid of waste. I saw it the other day, the snail shot a little cloud out - kinda funky...

 

[spanko]

Looks like a keyhole limpet. Does it have a hole in the top of the shell?

 

[saxman]

The part where the shell comes to a point on its back is used to get rid of waste. I saw it the other day, the snail shot a little cloud out - kinda funky...
what you actually saw was a spawning event, and not waste evacuation. sounds like a keyhole limpet to me as well.

 

[jigga w00t]

Yup! You guys are right. Most of the searches for limpet said herbivore. Looks like he's a keeper. Thanks, guys!

 

[bang guy]

Keyhole Limpets, believe it or not, are not Limpets.
They are outstanding grazers but have been known to peel the skin off of leather corals as they cruise by. They have the ability to eat some types of coral but in my experience they will stick to eating algae as long as it's available. They are the only snail I have ever seen leave a perfectly clean path on a rock covered in hair algae.

 

[speg]

They'll tear into coraline too.