Chiton ID Good or Bad

[learn2reef]

Is this a chiton? Is this type reef safe? Just arrived on a snail in the mail.

 

[WheatToast]

Is this a chiton? Is this type reef safe? Just arrived on a snail in the mail.

Gorgeous looking chiton! I have only heard of reef-safe chitons in the hobby (both hitchhikers and commercially available chitons) and the individual in the pictures resembles those that are sold to combat algae. However, I am not sure about the species, so I cannot say for certain that it is safe. Do you have a sump you could hold it in?

 

[Sean Clark]

I have never heard of a non reef safe chiton. Cool find.

 

[learn2reef]

Yeah, the chiton has really great colors! I am stoked about it (as long as it is reef safe). The zebra turbo snail it is attached to is massive at ~3” diameter, so I put them both in the sump for now.

 

[DannoOMG]

I actually ordered 2 chitons last year to add to my clean up crew. Both didn't survive the trip.

 

[Sean Clark]

I have only ever found one chiton before and I never saw it again. Is was about 1/2" long.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have only ever found one chiton before and I never saw it again. Is was about 1/2" long.

I've got tons of them! Tiny ones that come out at night

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I believe it is a Chiton marmoratus (Marbled Chiton) . At first it looked like a temperate species. Chitons tend to be nocturnal, known as algae "farmers" prefer a smoother rock and tend to come back to their same "parking spot" during the day.

 

[Isiah1820]

I think I have a bad kind.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I think I have a bad kind.

That's not a chiton

 

[Isiah1820]

That's not a chiton

What is it guy.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

What is it guy.

Probably a mollusk based on your previous thread... girlfriend

 

[kjkszpj9]

Good and a very beautiful chiton you got there.

 

[kjkszpj9]

I've got tons of them! Tiny ones that come out at night

I had 2 hitchhike under zoanthid coral i bought now there are over 100 chitons