Snail and starfish ID

[tucker]

Over the past few months my snail and baby starfish things have been booming. Are these all good snails and starfish that have been popping up in tank? Think there are 5 or more species prolly. Any exact id’s on any of them?

 

[DaveK]

Most snails are not a problem and are good to have but there are a few exceptions, such as cone snails. The starfish are asterina starfish. They are usually harmless to fish, but they may graze on coraline algae, so some people do remove them.

 

[tucker]

Are the elongated ones cone snails? I’ve finally been getting parameters good and never seen them before they pretty big.

 

[DaveK]

No, they are not. Here is the wikipedia article on cone snails - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cone_snail

Note the picture of the shells. Thes shells all tend to have fairly flat tops and most of them are covered with some sort of fairly geometric pattern. Once you see one, the shell is unmistakable.

BTW, you sometimes do see some species of cone snails being offered for sale in the aquarium trade. I don't recommend getting them, unless your setting up a tank specifically for them, and you realize the potential danger to yourself.

 

[Brittle star 11]

I have a similar situation and I like having them in my tank

 

[tucker]

Collonista Snails (mini turbo), and
Columbellid snails (nano conch) found em in hitch hiker guide

 

[tucker]

oh and these too.
Snail - Stomatella