Something living on my hammer

[Ccote]

It’s living in a hard white tube. It pulls in when I start poking at it. Not sure if it’s a worm ? Doesn’t seem to be eating the hammer...

 

[Ccote]

I can get a picture in white light if needed. Not sure if this is an obvious ID or if closer look needed

 

[Ccote]

the cacoon looking to hint is in the center of the hammer heads. It pretty big

 

[KJ]

It’s living in a hard white tube. It pulls in when I start poking at it. Not sure if it’s a worm ? Doesn’t seem to be eating the hammer...

Hard to tell Google Vermetid snail.

 

[Ccote]

I did look into that. Whatever it is doesn’t move though. It looks like a cacoon. It’s been there for months since I bought it. It’s just way bigger now

 

[Ccote]

I did look into that. Whatever it is doesn’t move though. It looks like a cacoon. It’s been there for months since I bought it. It’s just way bigger now

 

[Ccote]

I’m wondering if it’s feeding off the hammer somehow since it’s growing and the hammer hasn’t grow at all

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree on vermetid snail. Place a dab of Gel super glue over the opening. . . . OR if you can safely reach and see the bottom of the tube, using a needlenose pliers, break off at the very base and discard. Spray the pliers after with WD-40 and wipe clean to prevent rust

 

[Ccote]

I like the superglue idea

 

[Ccote]

I looked it up. I’m almost positive you both are right

 

[Ccote]

Is it harming the hammer?

 

[MaxTremors]

It’s a vermetid. I’ve never had any of the really massive variety, and the smaller kind like what you have have never really irritated my corals, at least not to the point where they didn’t grow and they certainly have never killed any. I know its sort of a contentious topic, some people have completely emptied their tanks and started over due to vermetid snails, and some don’t understand what the fuss is all about. I think I’m somewhere in the middle, if they’re close to any of my corals or if I see their little webs/tentacles touching my corals, I’ll kill them, but otherwise to me they’re just a part of the microfauna. It’s nearly impossible to buy live rock and/or frags with out getting them eventually, so to me it’s really just about managing them if they get out of control. Again, I know some people will say you need to go nuclear and scrub and peroxide and dip everything in your tank, but unless they’re visibly irritating your corals, I think just kill the ones that are close if it will give you peace of mind.

 

[Ccote]

I superglued the mouth of it. It’s slime was definitely ticking off my hammer