Branch looking stuff growing on snail

Yes those are Sertularella.

 

So what's the best coarse or action for me? Feed less and they'll disappier on their own or what?

 

Mine have always disappeared as the tank aged. I have never had larger tuffs of them as you do on the rock.

There are reports of Key Hole Limpets eating them. There is also a type of Nudibranch that eats them but I am sure it's harder to come by than Limpets.

You can try Kalk paste or hydrogen peroxide but you'll need to research the application of the hydrogen peroxide.

Some reported that raising the temp of the tank to over 90 F and leaving it that way for a couple days killed them as well. You'll have to remove all live stock if you go that route. You'll also have to scrub off the snail shells to make sure the hydroids do not make their way back into the tank.

Please let us know how you proceed, what worked and what does not.

Good luck

 

Well thanks for the help you could give me. Not really sure what path I'm going to take at this point. I might try a fw dip on the snail. And as for the rocks its growing on they are small and I think the easiest way will be just to remove them and scrub them. I'll be sure to post later on with what I decide to do. I'm going to do some more researching first to see if I can find a proven method of removal. I don't believe peppermint shrimp will eat them because I have 2 and I've never seen either if them near any of the colonies. Thanks again for the help.

 

You're welcome.

Your plan of removing the rock sounds good as long as they are not already really invasive and you do not kill the beneficial bacteria of the rock.
Many times Camel Shrimp are sold as Peppermint. Camel shrimp have a hump/bump on their backs Peppermint do not.
I was a little surprised Peppermint actually would eat Hydroids. I would still however pick up a couple Key Hole Limpets if you can as back up plan. They are fairly easy to find and inexpensive (well they used to be).

 

I'm 100% sure that I have peppermint shrimp and not camel shrimp. I've seen both species and can recognize both of them. I'll have to contact my LFS about key hole limpets. And maybe pick up another perrermint or 2. How many would be safe in a 55g? I currently have 1 cleaner and 1 peppermint.

 

I have had as many as 3 in a 30 gallon tank. Since I have never had Hydroids and Peppermint shrimp in the same tank I have no first hand knowledge of them eating hydroids, just trying to trouble shoot the issue.

 

Totally understandable. Now I've read that they will sting anything they can touch...should I worry about wearing some sort of protection when handling things with the hydroids on them or no?