Predator Fish for Vermetid Snail infestation

italquam · Jan 12, 2018

I have a ton of vermetid snails and would like to get a predator fish that will mow them all down.

Please give me suggestions ......will a trigger or puffer fish eat them??

Big G · Jan 12, 2018

Have you tried Emerald Crabs? I understand they eat them like popcorn.

Macdaddynick1 · Jan 12, 2018

I couldn't find any predator fish for these guys, but I did find a solution to pretty much every problem in my reef tank, starting with Astrea starfish, to vermetid snails, to picking up things from hard to reach places. A few different size Stainless steel forceps off of ebay. https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduc...pyQZg-nzv9B6FWxLxPNsYoPcNmivXpNxoCQQsQAvD_BwE

Kamden Uelton · Jan 12, 2018

Big G said:
Have you tried Emerald Crabs? I understand they eat them like popcorn.

never heard of an emerald crab eating a vermetid snail...

EDIT : Just looked it up and apparently they do... guess thats why my vermetid snails eventually disappeared

Kamden Uelton · Jan 12, 2018

however a seagrass wrasse will eat Vermetid snails, and any other invertebrate you have.

italquam · Jan 12, 2018

Big G said:
Have you tried Emerald Crabs? I understand they eat them like popcorn.

I haven't yet but I am open to try anything.

italquam · Jan 12, 2018

Macdaddynick1 said:
I couldn't find any predator fish for these guys, but I did find a solution to pretty much every problem in my reef tank, starting with Astrea starfish, to vermetid snails, to picking up things from hard to reach places. A few different size Stainless steel forceps off of ebay. https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduc...pyQZg-nzv9B6FWxLxPNsYoPcNmivXpNxoCQQsQAvD_BwE

The issue with removing manually is that I have hundreds.

italquam · Jan 12, 2018

Some pictures of the pests.

Kamden Uelton · Jan 12, 2018

Jesus you have a lot, if you don't have any inverts or clams i'd get a seagrass wrasse, They actively prey on most invertebrates and aren't considered invert safe.

You could also go with the Emerald Crab method and buy like 5 or so cause ya gonna need a lot of crabs for that!

italquam · Jan 12, 2018

Kamden Uelton said:
Jesus you have a lot, if you don't have any inverts or clams i'd get a seagrass wrasse, They actively prey on most invertebrates and aren't considered invert safe.

You could also go with the Emerald Crab method and buy like 5 or so cause ya gonna need a lot of crabs for that!

I will most likely try the sea grass wrasse, but I will need to invest in a screen top if they are jumpers like most wrasse are

ageno125 · Nov 7, 2018

Any update? Were you able to get rid of those little demons?

Frogger · Nov 11, 2018

I know someone who's green spotted puffer fish has eaten all the vermetid snails in their tank that it could reach. Might also eat any crustacean it can get is mouth around. Worth a try if you are at wits end.

Swoody · Nov 11, 2018

Yeah..an update would be great as I would like to know if the Emerald Crab method really works....Mine are not as bad as pictured but I can see it getting there without intervention....

mfollen · Mar 12, 2019

Anyone else have good experience with emerald crabs eating hermetic snails?

Thanks!!

McPuff · Mar 13, 2019

Hmm, maybe I just don't have enough emerald crabs in my tank! Was worried they would end up competing for food but I only have 2 in a 300 gallon reef. Better get more! I have a friend that added a few bumble bee snails in his 40 cube and saw immediate results... and visual evidence that the reduction in vermetids was caused by the snails. I believe bumble bee snails are predatory though so keep an eye on them and your other snails.

@italquam you could certainly try to manually crush those shells or use a chisel to guage them out. I've done that for the large vermetids. I also cut them up using bone cutters (the fish do eat them afterward). Forceps would not work on those large guys... the shells are way too thick.

I've got a 40 gallon lagoon in the system housing a humu trigger. Really can't tell if he eats any vermetids in there but I don't see new ones popping up. That said, I'm sure there are toothy predators that WILL eat them. Probably just need some luck to get the right species AND the right individual of that species. As always, keep the community updated on any progress!!!!

Ernie C · Sep 15, 2019

Any update on any of these methods? My vermetids are growing in numbers. I have emeralds and bumblebees. Not seeing a difference.

Thales · Sep 15, 2019

Needled nose pliers of various sizes and shapes are great for V's. If you have a ton, you will make a dent very quickly - do the easy ones first, then start to go for the hard to reach ones. Don't feel overwhelmed by numbers, just get cracking...it goes faster than you think it will.