Hairy things on my crabs and snails

[TBLightning]

I've noticed that a few of my crabs and snails are growing these white hair like things on their shells. Friend? Foe? Neutral? Thanks for your help.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

First one looks like either, spionid worms (not technically harmful, but they can spread to huge populations and look very unsightly), sponges (harmless filter feeders), or both - personally I’d remove any spionids.

The second pic looks like hydroids, and those you would want to remove.

 

[Tanglover1]

First one looks like either, spionid worms (not technically harmful, but they can spread to huge populations and look very unsightly), sponges (harmless filter feeders), or both - personally I’d remove any spionids.

The second pic looks like hydroids, and those you would want to remove.

+1

 

[TBLightning]

First one looks like either, spionid worms (not technically harmful, but they can spread to huge populations and look very unsightly), sponges (harmless filter feeders), or both - personally I’d remove any spionids.

The second pic looks like hydroids, and those you would want to remove.

Is it best to just remove the crab(s) with hydroids? Is there anyway to force them to take a different shell so I don't have to terminate the crab itself?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Is it best to just remove the crab(s) with hydroids? Is there anyway to force them to take a different shell so I don't have to terminate the crab itself?

It may go for another shell, but I would count on it. I’d probably take the crab from the display tank and put it in a little bucket or bowl of tank water for cleaning/treatment.

For getting rid of the hydroids and not the crab, I've heard smothering the hydroids with kalk paste may work, and here are some other threads with suggestions that might be helpful:

Hydroids: a reference to some strategies

Like many of us, I have had problems on and off over the years with Hydroids. The ones that have always given me the most problems are the common ones that almost look like a smaller and darker version of the beginner coral called Yellow Polyps. But the colonial Hydroid is much smaller than...

www.reef2reef.com

Hydroids - How do I eliminate- They have taken over my tank

So I have this stuff that has pretty much taken over my tank and I can't get rid of it. I'm looking for an ID and an eradication plan that is anything short of a total teardown.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Spare time]

Is it best to just remove the crab(s) with hydroids? Is there anyway to force them to take a different shell so I don't have to terminate the crab itself?

You can carefully rub hydrogen peroxide onto their shell with a paper towl or q-tip. I do this to every crab or snail before they enter the tank.

 

[TBLightning]

You can carefully rub hydrogen peroxide onto their shell with a paper towl or q-tip. I do this to every crab or snail before they enter the tank.

Good idea. I'm going to try that with a model paintbrush, might be easier to get into the spiny shell surface. Thanks!