Really weird looking hitchiker

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by OceanicCorals-Ian-

Likely a Polyclad Flatworm, they are predatory and snack on snails and clams......

Geez... hopefully not, since I haven't seen the whole thing come out of the rock yet I can't confirm. I looked at Ronald Shimek's inverts book and he say's polyclad's are hard to keep alive in the aquarium so will likely perish? I have digitate hydroids on the same rock so if I find out it is a polyclad worm I may just get rid of the rock. I was planning on waiting out the hydroids because I read they do not last forever and usually cannot live in an established tank for long.

Palmer

[Palmer]

Well it isn't as shy as it was I got about 14 minutes of footage on my camera. I uploaded it at the link below. I put about 6 minutes up and the closest and best footage starts at about 2.5 minutes. Since seeing it out of the rock it isn't as long as I thought it would be. It's less than an inch long with two big antenna's and it is feeding on something on the rock with a mouth between the antenna. Still seems like some kind of snail without a shell to me but I am interested in what more knowledgable folks think!

Palmer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMn-y39-tao

[Keri]

Stomatella varia - beneficial hitchiker. 99% positive.

[Delphinus]

+1, 100% positive (I'll add 1% )

Originally Posted by Keri

Stomatella varia - beneficial hitchiker. 99% positive.

+1 positive it a Stomatella, see the hole on the back of the snail towards the rear.

Bill

[Palmer]

Thanks for the info I haven't heard of these snails and it sure looked like something different when it first reared its head out of the rock (its a relief that it is a beneficial hitchiker.) Unfortunately I have an aptasia problem on the live rock I put in the tank so at one point will likely be getting peppermints. This may not spell good news for the snail according to what I just read.

Palmer