ID this bug for me?

[dsfdbutterfly]

Ok, I was surprise to learn that something like a fossil could lurk in my tank but this thing definately moves and I have no idea what the heck it could be. Not seen it go after anything and it don't go no where quick. In fact it's been in the same general area, of about 2 inches for the past two days now. Someone got any ideas. Even the funny ones. Throw them out there cuz I don't know where to go with this thing.

Hope the pictures show him well enough for u. He does move on feet like a slug or a snail. The first pic is a little greener than he actually is. The second pic is a little touched and the third is exactly as the camera took it.

Angie

[dsfdbutterfly]

I'm going to have to resize other two photos tonight. This will get u started I hope.

[Reef_Angel]

Wow....that is real different. I'm no help I'm afraid on that one. I'll be watching your thread to see if anyone comes up with an answer for you. What did you add to your reef last?

[unleashed]

looks to be a species of copepod. they do come in various sizes and a several variations :for example the giant copepod but if it has a slug like foot could be a type of slug you might want to check in this site posted below
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/index.htm

[graphixx]

ITS A CHITON, they are pretty cool little buggars

[dsfdbutterfly]

Thanks Greg,

After further search I do believe that is what it is. They are to be good for the reef and not to harm anything. He more than likely came with the LR and I just didn't see him before now. They graze on the algea in the tank and help keep things in check from what I can gather. People like them in the tank but they are not something that you can normally purchase. They are just found as hitchhikers. Looks like I found myself another good thing in my rock. Woo Hoo. Guess it balances out all the bad stuff hey.

Angie

[graphixx]

Angie, you hit it right on the head, they are hitchhikers and are great an grazing on algae. allways nice to find a beneficial hitchhiker on LR.

[graphixx]

aaahhh I forgot to add, they are such good grazers that they will get rid of the calcareous algae that sometimes gets on the glass. they have been known to actually rasp grooves in acrylic tanks. but they are awesome at grazing algae.

[dsfdbutterfly]

Thank goodness the tank isn't acrylic. They must have some powerful scrapers. Thanks for the help with it as looking at the darn thing you would think you wouldn't want to keep it. Now I will watch his progress. My little Chiton. I wonder if he rolls into a ball like they say they do? Now that would be funny to see.

Angie

[dakar]

Looks like some sort of prehistoric trillobyte (sp?)... really cool!

[Reef_Angel]

Do you have any idea what this critter came in on? What would have been your last coral bought? They maybe adhere to certain kinds of things.

[mutts]

Wow, thats a really cool littly critter

[graphixx]

they usually just come in attached to rock! I have a ton of them cruising around in my sump. when i see them I try to grab them and toss them into the main taink. they are cool little critters for sure

[dsfdbutterfly]

I've searched my mind and there would only be the zoa colonies, devils hand and a slim possiblity that it was the frogspawn but I still thing it was in all the rock. I bought my rock only about half cured in the store. It didn't smell but I still had to wait for the cycle to finish on it. The store didn't have the chance to go through and look over the rock. I have all kinds of things that I have found with it.

I have found many things that I have pulled out and discarded. On the flip side I have also found many good things. Like my new Chiton. My tank is crawling with pods that many are plainly visable during the day there are so many. I have several worms that were with the rock. I got a brittle star, a pistol shrimp and a few other things out of the deal. As an added bonus I paid less for the rock cuz I had to wait a few extra weeks before throwing in the rest of the stuff. I think it was well worth it.

Angie

[lReef lKeeper]

yep it a CHITON ... Greg beat me but i second his ID.