keyhole limpets

[bairdimusprime]

Whats everyones opinion on them? i have about 30 in my tank they just keep popping up.. i figure they're good cleaners for the tank but whats everyone elses opinions?

 

[downbeach]

Do you have any SPS in the tank?

 

[bairdimusprime]

nope just a RBTA, a large colony of frogspawn, a large colony of torch and about a hundred plus green metallic paly's

 

[redfishbluefish]

Do you have any SPS in the tank?

Jim, just curious, why do you ask? I thought limpets were reef safe (maybe with the exception of coraline algae).

 

[downbeach]

nope just a RBTA, a large colony of frogspawn, a large colony of torch and about a hundred plus green metallic paly's

As long as you don't have/get SPS you should be good. They feed on filamentous algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms and even hydroids. Unfortunately, in the SPS aquarium, they will also feed on the tissue of SPS corals.

 

[bairdimusprime]

Jim thanks for the advice i'm actually not a fan of sps corals.. i prefer watching the swaying motion in my tank....
paul i've got so much coraline growth and spread i dont think the Keyhole Limpets are munching on it... i did loose some small zoo's though which im positive it was them

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

Jim, just curious, why do you ask? I thought limpets were reef safe (maybe with the exception of coraline algae).

I was under the same impression. I would love to have some in my tank to battle the things Jim mentioned, but I have SPS?

 

[Fish Brain]

I had a ton in my Biocube and apparently they also really have a taste for GSP. They would constantly be at the edges of the mat chowing down on it and cutting little paths in the edges of the mat.

 

[qwik]

Are you sure they are keyholes andnot scutus . Just curoius . I i have a large scutus in my tank. I consider it large but i have heard they can get really big. Mine looks like a 1 1/5" black frilly mushroom with a white slit on its back. Only comes out at night. It scared the hell out of me first time i saw it but then i looked it up and found out they are good . Can you post up a pic

 

[bairdimusprime]

nope, def keyholes
i've got a ton if anyone wants a few for cleaning i'll gladly give some

 

[Hawkeye]

I don't think i have keyholes - i do have some type of limpet that came in via LR I bought long long ago. They are not in the display (yet) - but they are in my plumbing eating at the slime or whatever. I know because I find them in the skimmer eating at the sludge that accumulates in the neck. Personally they are annoying (mine) they do not grow large (slightly larger than rice) and when they die the shells accumulate in my sump or get caught in the intake screen. I siphon them up every 2 weeks or kill them when they go into the skimmer.

Between them and asterina stars - they are a nuisance. i would never purposedly buy them or get them. There are far better inverts to get that are less invasive/risky. But since you have them already - just keep an eye on them.