Snail Hitchhikers

gjreid · Nov 19, 2019

Hi,

Can someone tell me what is living in holes in the back of my snail? They don't seem to affect the snail. There seems to be one in each hole in the shell. Thanks.

DSC reef · Nov 19, 2019

That looks like vermetid snails.

flsalty · Nov 19, 2019

DSC reef said:
That looks like vermetid snails.

I agree. I can see some tubes. The holes aren't actually in the snail's shell.

Dsnakes · Nov 19, 2019

That’s wild. I’ve never seen them colonized and built up like that before.

DSC reef · Nov 19, 2019

This is the first time for me, that's wild.

Greg P · Nov 19, 2019

I think what we're all seeing is a heavy layer of coralline with the hitchhikers being surrounded as it spreads.
I don't see vermetids on my desktop but maybe what look like a couple of tube worms and I'd swear I can make out a couple mussels as well.

Regardless of what they are, you can scrape it all off in a dish of tank water.

DSC reef · Nov 19, 2019

I agree with coralline growing over the tubes of the vermetid snails. Vermetid has a unique look to them versus the fan of a tube worm.

flsalty · Nov 19, 2019

But not all tube worms have fans. I do see a couple with the two antenna looking things (how's that for scientific?) That some tube worms have. Definitely lots of coralline there. I wouldn't scrape anything off.

gjreid · Nov 20, 2019

So I looked up the vermetids and this appears to be what they are. I bought x4 snails from the same tank and just notice another one with some of these and what looks to be a web streaming from the snail shell. Is there a way to save these snails? Tried a quick scrap but seems quite bonded. Is there another option?