Something on my snail shell

[souk]

Could anybody help me ID what is on my snail shell. It sort of looks like a half clam/scallop shell that has an orangish/yellowish colour. It's growing as the snail grows and sometimes I think it is lifted up about 1 mm and today I saw my blue damsel take a whack at it and then leave it along. Or maybe if someone can point me to a link with some pics. TIA

 

[souk]

Here's a pic, it's not great but maybe it will help, you can see it near the bottom of the shell.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2015

 

[reefrunner69]

Would like a better pic, but it looks like a barnacle to me

 

[souk]

Maybe somebody can give me some camera advice.... how can I get a clearer close-up without the picture getting fuzzy? Seems I have to stand back to get a clear picture but then I lose the details.

 

[snapcrackler]

Unless you have a higher end camera you will not be able to get closeups on small items with clarity unfortunately

Just reach in and grab your snail, set him up against the front glass and then set your cam right up against the outside glass and you should be able to get a good pic. Ash him to say "slime"

Hope this helps a little

 

[reefrunner69]

What is the brand and model of your cam?

 

[souk]

I messed around with the settings and got this picture, a bit better. I used the macro setting on my FujiFilm 2600Z

 

[souk]

Well, observing this little guy I noticed that it in fact is alive, it seems to filter feed and when I turn on the flashlight the little shell snaps shut. Can a clam grow on a snail shell?

 

[reefrunner69]

It is almost certainly a barancle and IME they are common to be found on turbo shells.

 

[souk]

GREAT! Thanks for identifying my snail's friend!

I tried to do some research on barnacles and saw these 2 links on the forums:

http://www.esuweb.com/cardfile.asp?ItemNumber=88129&IDProductRelationship=115
http://www.vattenkikaren.gu.se/fakta/arter/crustace/cirriped/semibala/semiba1e.html

Now after looking at these 2 sites, this critter on my snail, IMO is not a barnacle unless there are different types of barnacles that look different then these. I'll see if I can get a better close up.

 

[possum]

Barnacles dont have a shell that "closes" like scallops and clams though do they?

 

[reefrunner69]

Depends on the species of barnacle.