Sundial Snail

[OttawaReefer]

I pulled one out of my tank this evening.  It's about the size of a dime.  I'm not sure if there are others in there, but how safe would it be to keep in the sump?  I've heard that they are zoanthid predators, but do they eat anything else?  This one was cruising at the side of an Acan colony.

If I put this into the sump..can it breed there and the larvae make it back into the display tank?  As well, if it only eats soft corals, will it likely starve in the sump?

Thanks.

[Maxthecat]

They do eat zoas, but if you don't have any, my moneys on them going after other corals, mostly soft. As for putting it in your sump, that's not the greatest idea. You see, most, not all, snail reproduce by *spores*. Once you have them in your water, well you have them for good. The spores start very very very tiny and eat their way up. Did you know that the shell of a snail is its poo? cool huh? (not really  ) So im not 100% on sundialsnail reproduction, but I would not leave it in your water just to make sure. Besides, these things rarely come alone..

[OttawaReefer]

Thanks.  I have both zoas and soft corals.  I really didn't want this  thing chowing down on anything.  I thought that some of the zoa rocks looked a little more bare than before, but I thought that I was imagining it. 

Yeah, that was my worry.  That if I left it in the sump that it would lay eggs and the larva would make their way into the display tank.  I've been keeping my eyes out for others but haven't seen any yet.

This one has been "rapidly desalinated".