Bad slugs?

[raserror645]

Hello,

I searched the forums but didn't find any info on this.

I have a 25 gallon saltwater tank that has been up for about 2 years. Recently, I noticed there are brown looking slugs on the live rocks. Then they started crawling on an open brain. I think the brain receded (no longer open and fluffy) since it is irritated by the slugs? The slugs are about 1/2 to 1 inch long, brownish black, no legs. It reminds me of garden slugs but smaller.

My questions are:
1) What are they?
2) Are they harmful?
3) What is the best way to get rid of them?

Any help you can provide is appreciated. I am worried about the brain and don't want it to die.

Thank you for your time!

Dave

[Loverotties]

Can you get a pic?

[Neuticle]

flat worms?

[Loverotties]

Sounds to big.

[raserror645]

Hello all,

Sorry for the delay in posting a response. I tried to post a pic but it appears I haven't posted enough so I was unable to upload.

I solved my problem by plucking off each slug (there were around 6 of them on the brain and a few on the live rocks) with a feeding tweezers. After that, I haven't seen any more of them.

Thanks again, guys, for helping me out.

[tdwyatt]

Still curious, any chance of telling us how large they were,?

Once you get to 20 posts, you'll be able to post pics.

[jenglish]

I believe you can attach them to a PM and send them to a moderator to be posted.

[raserror645]

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

Still curious, any chance of telling us how large they were,?

Once you get to 20 posts, you'll be able to post pics.

Sorry for not getting back right away.

There were about 1/16 to 1/8 in diameter and about 1/4 inch long. They were brown and looked like slugs. I noticed on a part of the brain, it looks like there are little brown branches- I wonder if they could have been brach worms.

I haven't seen any more since then.

Thanks again,

[raserror645]

Originally Posted by jenglish

I believe you can attach them to a PM and send them to a moderator to be posted.

I thought about that too. Too bad I thought of it AFTER I removed them.
A la Homer Simpson- DOH!

[tdwyatt]

I hope they were not Stomatella snails, though it is better to be safe than sorry if they were some type of corallivorous nudibranchs. I'll try and take some pix of Stomatellas tonight before I go to bed.

[Schreff]

I've noticed about 3 of these brown looking slugs in my tank today.... tried to take a pic and my batteries are dead in the cam.... I'll try to post a pic tomorrow. If I can find them!!!

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by raserror645

...There were about 1/16 to 1/8 in diameter and about 1/4 inch long. They were brown and looked like slugs. I noticed on a part of the brain, it looks like there are little brown branches- I wonder if they could have been brach worms...

Did they look like this?


Stomatella spp. -10-22-09 tdw

[Schreff]

Mine do

[Schreff]

WOOOHOOOO a good thing....

[tdwyatt]

These are DEFINITELY a good thing for the tank, and something you want. If the population is healthy and there are enough, they will usually establish a self-sustainuinug population iun tnks with sufficient placees for them to hide.

They are very nocturnal, seldom seen while the lights awre on, and very efficient consumers of algae. They are actually snails with little cap-shaped shels that are covered by their mantle. See http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php