Vermetid Snails

I've finally been able to ID the culprit that has been releasing web like material into my water. They are all over a piece of rock with black sponges. I thought it was the sponge. I've read a couple past threads and didn't really get any decent answers. A lot of different opinions. Are these things more hassle then they are worth? I might just take the rock out and scrub it clean of the snails and sponges... anyone's opinion or comments would be appreciated. thanks.

 

There was just a similar posting on here a short time ago:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/id/spiraled-poop-looking-thing-stick-middle-95018.html#post968211

I think opinions vary on these guys from the Google search I did.

 

If you don't like them remove them. In general they do no harm but they can irritate corals.

 

I do believe that a six line wrasse will eat them.

 

depending on the tank, those guys and kill corals by overgrowing them like a vine choking out a tree.

 

Does a wrasse also eat pods? I've got a ton of them most likely because nothing is eating them. I just cleaned out my filter pad today and found a bunch of baby looking shrimps in there too! Can only add maybe one more fish. So if I could find someone to fix both problems then that's who it will be!

 

Also I think I see some of the web like material on my LTA...should i be concerned?

 

I haven't had any wrasse eat vermitids. Pods are free food for your fish. They also consume microalgae. Wrasses eat pods.

 

Vermatid snails seem to propogate at an incredibly fast rate
IME they are not initially a problem, although as said some corals do react to the web making contact with them ( I had 1 leather finger coral that closed regurlarly due to this)

Another real hazard once they get established is that if you strip down the tank your likely to get a punctured finger tip from these things as it becomes difficult to find a gripping area that is not covered in them (Gloves are usefull in these circumstances)

just stripped and re set up my tank, and spent some time snapping off these nuisance spikes prior to arranging them in the set up

Steve

 

If they are all on one rock and it isn't a hassle to get the rock out then, yes, take out the rock and scrub (scrape) the rock in some removed aquarium water. When I get one whose web is annoying a coral I use a tooth pick, put some super glue gel on the pick, stick it in the snails tube and break it off.