Got a hitchhiker or unknown critter?? Check here for an ID

[Naiad]

Got a hermit in a shipment of snails. He's in one of the snail shells. About 1/4" in size. Stay hiding in the sand bed most of the time.

I would definitely isolate it. Looks like he could be a baby of some of the larger species but it is hard to tell with it all hunkered down.

 

[Roboson]

If you could get a picture under normal (not blue) light, I could identify it. Hermits are my thing.

 

[stevo01]

Thank you. I believe it's def a baby hermit. Hitchhiker from saltwaterfish.com it ate one of the snails then took its shell, then ate another in the 1 day it took to get to me. Assuming they gave me 10 snails lol. I wrote them and asked them to pay attention better. I'm kinda on the fence with this supplier atm.

I would really like an ID from a hermit expert if possible, as I've not been able to find a single picture online that remotely resembles this one. Granted at its baby size, colors and patterns may be too early. I agree that it may be of the larger variety as it seems to be a little hairy.

Thanks for the help

 

[stevo01]

If you could get a picture under normal (not blue) light, I could identify it. Hermits are my thing.

I can do that np man. The whites were only 30% in that picture. I'll throw them up when I get home and post another picture. It matches the sand perfectly, and doesn't move around much in light.

 

[Roboson]

While we wait on hermit photo that I have two things I need identifying.

The first seems to be a barnacle on my snail. Is that right? I don't have any barnacles in my tank (except for maybe that one).

The second thing is a clear mass of frilly redness. At first I thought it was a price of red plastic, but it's been growing.

 

[stevo01]

Here's some with the whites just on.

 

[Roboson]

Iridopagurus reticulatus

That's my best guess. There is also something called a white legged hermit crab for sale from a couple places online. Either way, they're particularly veracious crabs. They'll eat nassarisus snails in particular, but other invertebrates are in danger. Could reach a decent size. They're not sold as CUC because they tend to eat inverts. I'd put him in the sump (or send him to a hermit crab lover).

 

[stevo01]

Dude I think your pretty awesome at this. It was is the bag with the nassarisus snails. It's cool looking but not right for my tank. I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet. Probably my LFS. I have a lot of beneficial snails I purchased so I'd like them to stay alive haha. Thanks for the ID Roboson!

 

[stevo01]

The blue spots and purple eye stalks aren't a match tho. Hmmmm.

 

[stevo01]

Wonder if it's a male/female difference and the pics I'm seeing maybe are of just one sex.

 

[stevo01]

I think I found it.


The Bluespot Hermit Crab (Paguristes longirostris) can be recognised by having a blue spot on the inner side of the first segment (or merus) of each claws. The body is usually light brown or pinkish brown, and the carapace gets to about 0.5cm wide.

 

[Roboson]

Now that really is a strange hermit. I'd never even heard of it. Looks like you got a pretty rare crustacean there. Not something your gonna find in an every day LFS.

 

[stevo01]

Thanks...I think ha. It's tiny right now but if it start killing all the snails it might have to find a special home

 

[stevo01]

It's also called blue elbow hermit crab. Found on shores of Singapore.

 

[GHsaltie]

Need an Id for these two anemones the second one looks like aiptasia but I would like another opinion. The first one doesn't really look like aiptasia, unless there are variances in the species? Also I found a Mojano yesterday, does aiptasia x work on those or is there a better method of eradication?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Yes, they're appies. They look a little different from each other, because there are are different species.

The Marine Register of Marine Species actually lists 42 different ones.

 

[GHsaltie]

Yes, they're appies. They look a little different from each other, because there are are different species.

The Marine Register of Marine Species actually lists 42 different ones.

Amazon Prime here I come! I knew I should have gone ahead and gotten some aiptasia x. Any input as to whether it would work on a Mojano as well?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Yes, it does the same for both.

 

[stevo01]

Got a new one in my tank. I thought it was spaghetti worms, but not really sure. They are in 3 locations that I've seem so far.

They are growing in a strange pattern. Overlapping left to right, almost looks like a white zipper. Located on the rock above and to the left of the hermit crab.

Good or bad as well as a positive ID please

 

[Tahoe61]

Those look to be snail eggs.