What is this?

[Jamroz37]

Was just looking at my tank and it has been up and running sence thanksgiving and I just saw the other day Copepods or whatever there called and just saw this sluggish looking bug I attached a pic

 

[Jamroz37]

It's on the top rock looks like its climbing down

 

[NarwhalLover3]

Does it look like there's a fingernail stuck to its back?

 

[Jamroz37]

Ummm idk it's almost complexity flat and looks like it has spikes on the back

 

[NarwhalLover3]

Maybe a chiton. Could you get a better pic?

 

[Jamroz37]

That's the best I could get I can't find him now he hid somewhere haha

 

[Leonardo7689]

Possibly stomatella. Does it look like a slug and move on the rocks pretty fast?

 

[Jamroz37]

Yes looks like a slug an fast not very but it does move fast for a slug I guess

 

[Leonardo7689]

Try looking up stomatella and see what you think

 

[Jamroz37]

It's about the size of that but looks almost as if in its back there are spikes like if it where his spine it's hard to explain

 

[Leonardo7689]

Gotcha.

 

[Jamroz37]

I just want to know if its bad for my tank or not

 

[NarwhalLover3]

Well we can't tell you if it's bad or not until we get a positive id

 

[Jamroz37]

You can't tell from my picture?

 

[Jamroz37]

Here's a close up

 

[Leonardo7689]

Well, it depends... Until you can actually identify what it is there's not definite answer to that question. The only thing I can think of that possibly have spikes on its back that looks like a slug would be a nudibranch... Try to get a clear pic when you see it again. That will help a lot on identifying what it is

 

[Jamroz37]

No it's not that ether I wish I could get a better picture

 

[CorallineAlgae]

It's a chiton 100%. I've had quite a few of them in three different reefs. They're harmless but they will slowly feed on coralline algae. I can tell you though, that ain't a problem at all. Every tank I've ever had them in was covered with coralline. I honestly believe they may help seed the tank with coralline by releasing tiny particles in the tank as they feed. I love chitons. Very cool little animals.

 

[Jamroz37]

Thank you!

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Anytime! ^_^