Black Limpet

The Black Limpet belongs to the slug-like Scutus group: a broad, dark mantle can conceal most of its pale, flattened shell. This unusual appearance separates it from a nudibranch, despite the similar outline when it moves across aquarium rockwork.

Provide established hard surfaces with algal films and shaded crevices. Much of its grazing may take place after dark, so inspect the aquarium in the evening before assuming a hidden animal is missing. A newly cleaned or sparsely furnished aquarium can offer very little natural food for a grazer.

Watch its feeding around corals. Aquarium observations include successful algae grazing, but coral damage has also been reported; remove or separate an individual that repeatedly feeds on coral tissue. Avoid pulling an attached limpet forcibly from rock or glass, which can damage its soft foot.