Reminder to dip and inspect EVERYTHING!

[Jan]

I purchased a live rock from a member and it was infested with keyhole limpets. There is no need to name names but the person had no idea that the rock had limpets. I dipped the rock in revive. I then inspected the rock with a magnifying glass. I ended up pulling off about 15 keyhole limpets. These things were so tiny that I would have never seen them without my magnifying glass. Heads up! Familiarize yourself with predacious hitchhikers and check everything no matter who it came from. The rock is in fresh water and wont go into my system for a while.

[Stephen]

You sure they are keyhole limpets? And if so umm why the big deal. Keyholes are algae grazers.

[ctenophore]

I have never seen a mature tank without limpets. About the only harm they can possibly do is get stuck in small pumps occasionally.

[DDiver]

+1 can not stress this enough...most people don't even realize that they have bugs until they start noticing their corals kicking the bucket...too often have I been to someones house and see redbugs crawling over a coral and they have no idea they have them...they are not hard to see like people say( at least not with a trained eye)...

Edited October 5, 2009 by DDiver

[Jan]

I have no "keyhole" limpets in my tank. I'd rather not have them. Limpets without holes may be alright but these had holes. I've read that they eat SPS as well as "coraline" algae. I'm not making a big deal just letting folks know. It's advice. Take from it what you want, what you can use, and throw the rest away. If you're comfortable with keyhole limpets in your system then this post does not apply to you or your situation. If not, then heads up. How does that saying go "One mans poison is another mans food". I digress.

 

 

I purchased a live rock from a member and it was infested with keyhole limpets. There is no need to name names but the person had no idea that the rock had limpets. I dipped the rock in revive. I then inspected the rock with a magnifying glass. I ended up pulling off about 15 keyhole limpets. These things were so tiny that I would have never seen them without my magnifying glass. Heads up! Familiarize yourself with predacious hitchhikers and check everything no matter who it came from. The rock is in fresh water and wont go into my system for a while.

Edited October 5, 2009 by Jan

[flowerseller]

Good advise to inspect and devise a dip plan of your own.

Thanks again for the heads up and reminder.

[reefhunter]

anyone have a link to ID these guys?

[Dell2go]

anyone have a link to ID these guys?

 

1+

[Stephen]

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/keyhole_limpet.html

 

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/fleshy_limpet.html

 

The shell is very similar to a stomatella except that the limpet does not stretch out under it like a stomatella does and the limpet has (or may not have) a hole in the top of their shell which part of them can protrude through. A lot of limpets you see also have a fluted sort of shell.

[Dell2go]

So do these really eat coraline algae like Jan said?

[Jan]

? Look it up.

So do these really eat coraline algae like Jan said?

[Coral Hind]

"The Keyhole Limpets are typically half an inch long, or smaller, and feed on unwanted filamentous algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms and even hydroids. Unfortunately, in the SPS aquarium, they will also feed on the tissue of SPS corals."

 

 

Taken from here.

[flowerseller]

Bob,

Can you zero in on these with the camara microscope?

[Nate]

Very interesting. I know I have these in my main tank. Could explain my lack of coralline algae. Haven't noticed any loss of tissue on my sps corals though. Thanks for the heads up Jan. I'll have to pay more attention now.

[zygote2k]

kill the witch! (keyhole limpets)