Live rock critters.

Reko · Apr 25, 2020

So a few weeks back I bought 2 pieces of live rock from Petco they are in a qt because they have bristle worms and am undecided if I want them in my new tank.

Today I noticed this lttle tube its about a quarter inch and it retracts when I put my finger near it.. It's so small I can't get a decent picture but maybe someone knows what it is.

JasonK84 · Apr 25, 2020

Bristle worms are good and will help with detritus cleanup but that tube is a vermetid snail and while it may not be super harmful it can populate all over the tank and can irritate coral with their webbing.

Neoalchemist · Apr 25, 2020

It is a vermitid snail it will use a mucus fishing line to broadcast feed.
Remove it, they spread like fire and cause a lot of problems down the road. You can seal its tube with super glue.

Reko · Apr 25, 2020

should i just get rid of the rock or risk it and glue it and put in my dt?

JasonK84 · Apr 25, 2020

Reko said:
should i just get rid of the rock or risk it and glue it and put in my dt?

Vermetid snails are pretty common critters and most likely you will end up with them by adding corals unless you follow very strict QT and removal protocols. If you see 1 there is probably many more on the rock you haven’t seen. Plug the ones you see but don’t get rid of the rock just for some vermetid snails.