Resolved What is this?

Hi Guys,

I saw this in my tank today and wonder what it is or where it came from. Its spiral shape makes me think it is from a snail but it hasn't moved. I looked at all of my snails but didn't see anything similar. I just got back from the LFS and saw some of the same things in their tanks. They were to busy to ask, so I figured I would ask here. Any ideas??? Thanks!!!

Ivy

 

Looks like a snail's "trap door" (for lack of a better term).

 

Thanks for the reply. I googled trap door and it seems to be a specific type of pond snail. The only snails that I have that are near that size are large nerites and black turbos. Is this part of the growing cycle or is it a sign of something? I think that they are all accounted for but have counted today. Thanks!!!

 

pretty sure when i lost a few turbo snails they left something similar behind...probably a trap door of a lost snail

 

ya looks like an operculum of a snail poor little snail......

 

Yup. You lost a snail and it left you its door.

 

That's the word!

 

It could have just come with the aragonite substrate you have there. I had a bunch of them in mine as well.

 

Thanks Guys,

I just did a count and I still have 8 nerites and 2 turbos moving around, so I am guessing that it came in the sand. This is the first I have seen, but my snails keep throwing up the bigger pieces to the top. Thanks!!!!

 

It'll be a Turbo operculum. Nerites have a D-shaped operculum that feels like it's made of plastic. Turbo operc's are heavy, and made out of shell material. In several cases, the easiest (and sometimes only) way to separate turbinid species without killing them is to compare the opercula.

Cheers,



Don