Where can I find keyhole limpets?

Dak · 10-02-2001, 07:24 PM

Turns out that hydroids have invaded my tank!

www.denniscurry.com/unknown2.htm

Alice, remember in chat last week you thought that's what they might be? You were right.

Does anyone know where I can order limpets online? I've searched a number of sites with no luck, any suggestions? Thanks.

Dak

FishDaddy · 10-03-2001, 12:57 PM

Dak,
You might try Tampa Bay Saltwater http://www.tbsaltwater.com/anclote.html
Dick

Dak · 10-03-2001, 01:08 PM

Fishdaddy,

Thanks, I've e-mailed them and they're going to see what they can do.

Thanks for your help

FishDaddy · 10-03-2001, 01:32 PM

Your'e quite welcome, Dak!
Dick

julieanne399 · 10-03-2001, 03:56 PM

Hi! I have tons of Limpits in my tank, but unfortunately they are not keyhole limpits. They are the ordinary algae eating kind. I would be more than happy to send you some if you want, I do not know if they will help you or not. They multiply rapidly!

Email me if you want me to send you some. Julie

Dak · 10-03-2001, 04:00 PM

I'd like to give them a try, thanks for offering, I'll e-mail you.

tried finding your e-mail,not posted, so I sent you a private message.

eaglelox · 10-03-2001, 05:57 PM

i had never heard of these things before, but the first thing that came to mind was" he shouldnt talk like that, this is a family place".LOL.

Steve

Dak · 10-03-2001, 06:08 PM

Eaglelox, LOL, get your mind out of the gutter!!!

Just read some discouraging news about limpets, seems that they have an taste for corrraline algae.

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/a...wb/default.asp
Quote from above article by R. Shimek:"but those that graze on algae seem to have a decided tendency to eat coralline algae. These limpets really are exceptionally well equipped to eat corallines. They have a radula with teeth made of a mixture of iron salts (primarily hematite) and silica (in the form of opal). These animals can cut through and remove coralline algae like it was butter; some of them can do the same to acrylic aquarium walls!"

Maybe I'll buy a hard bristled toothbrush and scrub them off!

FishDaddy · 10-03-2001, 06:24 PM

Dak,
I've got maybe 150+ in my 55; they're not Keyholes but look like them without the hole in the top. They stay strictly on the glass and have never seen them bother Coralline. Mine apparently hitchiked in on a piece of rock with a coral frag back last winter and have really multiplied.
If you were closer, I'd be happy to share some with you.
Dick

Brooke · 10-03-2001, 06:28 PM

Dak..that long algae-looking thing doesn't look like a hydroid to me. The hydroid that I'm familiar with looks like a short, brown aiptasia. We still have a few of these in our tank and they are very hard to kill. We've tried kalk, etc. The only thing that will truly kill them is to kill/dry out the rock. This is the only thing I know that will get rid of them 100%. We have some now on a rock that we can not take out of the tank...so we're gotta try something??

Brooke

Dak · 10-03-2001, 08:04 PM

Fishdaddy, well, it's good to know they're not all corraline eating machines. Wish you were closer too.

Brooke, Ron Shimek ID'd these guys as hydroids on his Ask Dr. Ron forum. He has a page with a bit of a write-up on them called Odd Critters under digitate or finger-like hydroids at: http://www.rshimek.com/odd_critters.htm . My picture shows them in their expanded mode, they also shrink up quite a bit.

My LFS mentioned the other type of hydroid too. Too many of these creatures for me, how come the ones I don't want are the ones that are so prolific?