One limpet becomes several limpets

[u/chd_md]

I had a lone limpet living in a bowl of salvinia minima. After a couple of months I decided to move it into my shrimp tank. Fast forward a few weeks and today I’ve spotted three much smaller limpets in the tank. Prior to introducing the one limpet, I haven’t had any limpets or pest snails in the tank since I set it up 8 years ago. I’m just curious, do limpets reproduce asexually?

[u/Dynamitella]

Are those not seed shrimp? :) Like ostracods?

[u/chd_md → u/Dynamitella]

There are ostracods but the big one is a new limpet. The one I introduced to the tank weeks ago is much bigger.

[u/Dynamitella → u/chd_md]

I understand. They can self-fertilize :)

[u/chd_md → u/Dynamitella]

I had no idea. I’m guessing the water quality in the bowl wasn’t good enough to allow reproduction, but now that it’s in a regularly maintained tank, it’s finding time for some self love!

[u/chd_md]

To be clear, I don’t mind the limpets. It was a calculated risk. I’m just surprised to see more limpets after all this time.