Brute forcing Vermetid snails out

[Bryce M.]

Been fighting these guys for a while, getting so mad, got a knife scraped what I could off and the ones that couldn't be, I just stabbed the darned tubes and got them out. It's been working actually!

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I do not want to discourage you, but the day you stop physically removing them you will notice their numbers start increasing again. Unfortunately getting them all is tricky in a reef system. All it takes is one to survive and start repopulating.

 

[Bryce M.]

I do not want to discourage you, but the day you stop physically removing them you will notice their numbers start increasing again. Unfortunately getting them all is tricky is a reef system. All it takes is one to survive and start repopulating.

yup, happened once for me...
hopefully one day
I heard bumblebee snails have a taste for them

 

[Jeeperz]

I think my single bumblebee snail or cleaner shrimp removed them from my tank. I used to crush them daily. Now they are gone and haven't seen one in months.

 

[Phycodurus]

good to know! 10 points to Pusiostoma snails!

the only negative that i’m aware of with bumblebee snails is their potential to deplete the microfauna in live sand (much like Astropecten sand sifting stars).

 

[Jeeperz]

My bumblebee only goes in the sand long enough to get to another rock. 99% of the time it's on a rock. Maybe I got one that wasn't informed it's a sand snail?

 

[Bryce M.]

My bumblebee only goes in the sand long enough to get to another rock. 99% of the time it's on a rock. Maybe I got one that wasn't informed it's a sand snail?

I need mine on my rocks!!
Just hope he doesn't touch any of my snails, plenty of tubed guys for him!

 

[lapin]

I have 5 bees and they keep the vermetids in check.

 

[Bryce M.]

I have 5 bees and they keep the vermetids in check.

This news is making my day!

 

[Midrats]

I'm surprised you don't hear more about bumblebee snails controlling vermetids, especially with all the talk about them of late. I'm may have to pick up a few today.

 

[mta_morrow]

I have 5 bees and they keep the vermetids in check.

Have you seen them on the tubes ? This would be a first as I have asked so many times, but none ever says “I have seen it”. And I mean no offense by asking the question. Thanks, Mike

 

[Jeeperz]

I have not seen mine on the tubes, but where else would they have gone? I have 2 clowns, 1 tailspot, 1 watchman, couple trochus, couple cerith, couple scarlet crabs, Halloween crab, bumblebee snail, cleaner shrimp. The tubes themselves disappeared completely and I have algae issues along with excessive nutrients

 

[Phycodurus]

I have not seen mine on the tubes, but where else would they have gone?

would have been nice to have had direct observation (like checking the tank at night).

i do find it curious that the tubes also disappeared. to me, that implies the bumblebee snail chowed down on both the vermetid snails & their tubes.

 

[Jeeperz]

I was wondering if my cleaner could also. When I used to go in with a screw driver and crush them he'd follow me around and scavenge after I crushed them.

 

[Phycodurus]

that’s understandable that they’d scavenge as opportunistic, but i think the issue with a typical CUC is that nothing can break down those darn tubes. i’m not sure bumblebee are exempt.

 

[Jeeperz]

Do the tubes naturally dissolve? I know ive seen used live rock being cycled at stores and you can still see the tubes. All my tubes have disappeared, like the ones i could see under overhangs and in caves but couldn't reach to destroy