Parasite On A Astreas Snail?!

[Danno]

I was looking at how nice of a job the snail I have were cleaning my rocks for the first time and I noticed something bazaar. On one of my snails there are small flower looking bumps on the shell. They have little fans sticking out of it. Note that this is only on ONE of my snails and they are all the same species. I have never read anything on this or seen anything like this before. Here is an attempted picture of it.

 

[Donya]

Barnacle maybe? If so, they don't harm the snail. They're good guys

 

[afmo]

several of my snails have feather dusters on their shells...its great to see a snail cruising the glass with a little windsock LOL

 

[Danno]

Thats what I was guessing at first because it kind of looked like them!!! But then I was thinking they can't be because they live in the shell! This is so insane! Thanks guys! Creepy but cool!

 

[Danno]

Uhmm...guys. I just looked at my tank really quickly and my snail was smoking! (please don't post any jokes ). It came out of its vent thing that pops out from its shell. Does anyone happen to know what this "smoke" was ?

 

[Synirr]

Maybe the barnacles reproducing?

 

[afmo]

Uhmm...guys. I just looked at my tank really quickly and my snail was smoking!

hrm...is he over 18?

OHHH i just HAD to do it!! sorry

reproduction of some sort would be my guess as well...

 

[Danno]

It wasn't the attachments on the snail that was smoking. It was the snail itself.

 

[Donya]

It wasn't the attachments on the snail that was smoking. It was the snail itself.

Species that spawn freely without laying eggs will have that smoking appearance when releasing eggs/sperm. I've seen that from some of my snails recently.

 

[Danno]

I guess my snails are happy then