Cerith-like Hitchhikers
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Specific Name: Various – includes juvenile Cerithium, Bittium, or unknown species
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Diet: Usually omnivore – many graze on algae or detritus
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Pest or Good Guy: ⚠️ Mostly Good Guys, but ID needed – some may be parasitic or predatory
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Size: Tiny – 1–10 mm, often seen as juveniles
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Breed in Captivity: Sometimes – especially in tanks with live rock and minimal predators
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Cautions: Easy to misidentify; may be mistaken for pyramidellids or other pests
Description:
Cerith-like hitchhikers are small, spiral-shelled snails that show up unannounced on live rock, in substrate, or crawling across coral plugs. Most of the time, they’re harmless grazers helping clean up detritus and biofilm in tight spots. Some are juvenile Cerith snails that came in as eggs, while others belong to small reef-dwelling genera like Bittium that serve similar ecological roles. The problem? Some parasitic or predatory snails look nearly identical at first glance. Always observe behavior—true Ceriths and friends graze slowly and avoid livestock, while pests tend to cluster around clams or other snails. If unsure, isolate for ID, but don’t panic—most are reef-safe micro-grazers doing good work behind the scenes.