What is this thorned snail???l friend/FOE?

[banditpowdercoat]

OK, While redoing my sump, I look into tank, se this thing coming out of a crevasse Looks weired, TOTALLY. Like thorns down its back, moves like a snail, although pretty fast fro snail pace.
Is it Good, Bad? WHAT IS IT?


http://banditpowdercoat.com/Powdergallery/nfpicturepro/albums/userpics/10002/Dsc00011.jpg

[justinl]

my first impression is a chiton. chitons are mollusks (like snails) but have 8 shell plates instead of a single shell like a snail. you can treat them like a snail though as they are harmless algae eaters. there is one kind of oddball carnivorous chiton out there but that is not the one you have.

[banditpowdercoat]

Thx Justin. Its a Chiton. Exact like this one from the Wet Wide Web. Never heard of them trill now. Its amaziing what you learn, huh

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Chitons/hitch1.jpg

[i have crabs]

ive had one in my tank for years only eats algae from what i can tell.

[banditpowdercoat]

Ya, cool. Now its gone??!! Dang deep hole in the LR LMAO. I thoulgt I saw something in that hole about 5 months ago. Alot smaller. Guess, if it was bad, would have caused some devastation allready. Atleast I got a pic of it. Who knows when I'll see it again?

[mark]

and a nice looking one.

[Marlin65]

I have a few of those they normally come out when the lights are off.
They also grow fast and in my tank they look like they are multiplying. :biggrin:

[justinl]

ah there ya go. yeah definitely a sweet looking creature. a lot more elongate than the chitons Im used to.

[banditpowdercoat]

OK, how do you pronounce it?

ch-i-ton with heavy I sound
or
chit-on like the poop slang?

or chi-ton chi like Tai-Chi ?