Massive Vermetid snail?

[mrbacony]

On my frogspawn, I found a normal sized vermetid snail. But on the other side, I found this massive casing. Is this too a vermetid snail? Never seen one this big.

 

[madmarks]

It certainly is one. They can get big. Crazy glue the opening shut.

 

[JGT]

Indeed.

 

[Projects with Sam]

dang. that looks just like one I have... Does it put out a snotty fishing net and pull it back in to eat?

 

[Brit’s Fish]

I have one of these guys too! It’s on a mushroom frag and it’s so big I almost feel bad killing it. I’ve been putting it off and I keep it pretty far away from everything else so it’s web doesn’t bother any other corals. It just keeps growing it’s tube.

 

[ninjamyst]

It certainly is one. They can get big. Crazy glue the opening shut.

That doesn't work. I don't know why people keep saying this. The worm will burrow it's way out. Maybe this works for the smaller ones but definitely not the big ones, especially on an euphyllia where the skeleton is not as hard as a rock.

I have one of these guys too! It’s on a mushroom frag and it’s so big I almost feel bad killing it. I’ve been putting it off and I keep it pretty far away from everything else so it’s web doesn’t bother any other corals. It just keeps growing it’s tube.

If you don't remove it, it will quickly spread like wild fire all over your tank. As a matter of fact, if you have one that big, your tank is already infested.

 

[mrbacony]

dang. that looks just like one I have... Does it put out a snotty fishing net and pull it back in to eat?

I have not seen a net with this one. But I didn’t even know it was there until tonight after the coral retracted. Normally I do see the snotty net with vermetid snails. But not this one.

 

[mrbacony]

That doesn't work. I don't know why people keep saying this. The worm will burrow it's way out. Maybe this works for the smaller ones but definitely not the big ones, especially on an euphyllia where the skeleton is not as hard as a rock.


If you don't remove it, it will quickly spread like wild fire all over your tank. As a matter of fact, if you have one that big, your tank is already infested.

I normally try and pinch them off when I see them. But with one this big, I am afraid I will damage the coral. But I guess I will have to try anyway to get rid of it.

 

[madmarks]

That doesn't work. I don't know why people keep saying this. The worm will burrow it's way out. Maybe this works for the smaller ones but definitely not the big ones, especially on an euphyllia where the skeleton is not as hard as a rock.


If you don't remove it, it will quickly spread like wild fire all over your tank. As a matter of fact, if you have one that big, your tank is already infested.

I am not being argumentative, just curious, how would you deal with one that size? Get rid of the frag?

 

[ninjamyst]

I am not being argumentative, just curious, how would you deal with one that size? Get rid of the frag?

Bone cutter and simply snip it off. Just have to be careful not to break the frogspawn. If the vemetaid snail is below the frogspawn polyp tissue, you can also just cut the stalk and discard it. In the OP case, the vemetaid is pretty close to the tissue so it is risky.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pliers or bone cutter and break off at base- Dont crack tube and discard.

 

[Projects with Sam]

why not pack tube with kalk then seal it with superglue?

 

[rhostam]

I normally try and pinch them off when I see them. But with one this big, I am afraid I will damage the coral. But I guess I will have to try anyway to get rid of it.

I wondered why my acans didn’t look as beautiful as some of the ones I’ve seen. But then I noticed these tubes. Vermituds! I only had a few on a few frags so I glued them shut. I only wish I had noticed them sooner. I might have saved a few acans. After a day all of the acans opened large and bright! I now inspect rocks and frags regularly looking for signs of them. I didn’t know what they were when I first spotted them and even once I learned what they were I didn’t realize they irritate corals that badly (and I never saw “webs” only at most a strand here or there).

 

[Brit’s Fish]

That doesn't work. I don't know why people keep saying this. The worm will burrow it's way out. Maybe this works for the smaller ones but definitely not the big ones, especially on an euphyllia where the skeleton is not as hard as a rock.


If you don't remove it, it will quickly spread like wild fire all over your tank. As a matter of fact, if you have one that big, your tank is already infested.

I’m not suggesting to OP that they shouldn’t get rid of theirs. I posted about the one I have the first day that I had the frag and noticed it but it sounded like they’re a different type of Vermetid snail… again, not saying they’re a good one. I’m fairly certain that my tank is not infested at all though, unless they reproduce alone? I also happen to love bumblebee snails and I have a bunch in every tank, for just such an occasion.
either way, next time I do a WC, it’s on my list of things to take care of.

 

[MaxTremors]

I’ve seen some truly massive vermetids over the years, but nothing compares to one I saw on Gallery Aquatica, they had one from a tank breakdown that was nearly two feet tall and branching (they were colonial), free standing and as big around as a pencil, looked almost like a gorgonian (without the polyps) or a sea fan.

 

[Miami Reef]

why not pack tube with kalk then seal it with superglue?

I believe vermitid snails are much more resilient to chemical treatments because they produce a slime coat.

 

[mrbacony]

Pliers or bone cutter and break off at base- Dont crack tube and discard.

What happens if I crack the tube? It is going to be very difficult to do that without cracking it or completely destroying the stalk of the frogspawn

 

[vetteguy53081]

What happens if I crack the tube? It is going to be very difficult to do that without cracking it or completely destroying the stalk of the frogspawn

The worm can take off and rebuild elsewhere

 

[mrbacony]

The worm can take off and rebuild elsewhere

I understand. I will try removing it outside the tank and then dip if necessary. I will get him one way or another.

 

[OscarHaglund]

The worm can take off and rebuild elsewhere

But if you crack the shell and smear the worm to pieces? Or is it like a aiptasia that it can regrow from almost nothing?