Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
As for these small snails, there are almost 900 species in the Class Amphineura or Polyplacophora. Most are found in the intertidal zone (the "littoral" zone), on or in rocks, but some species have been found as deep as 6000 meters (about 20,000 feet). They move slowly on muscular feet and cling to rocks. They have shells made up of eight overlapping calcareous plates.
Once these snails on a half-shell, which are very good microalgae grazers, arrive attached to live rock or various coral specimens, they can become established in aquaria where they may even become somewhat of a nuisance, as smaller juvenile specimens can easily attain entrance into pumps and clog motor impellers. In fact, some were my worse problem when it came to reduced protein skimmer flows and other pumps ceasing to work.
