starving vermetid snails

[Talo’s Reef]

I just pulled my fish out of the tank as its main purpose will be an invert/coral QT and I have a ton of vermetid snails. I am hoping to starve them out so they don't make it to the display tank. Any ideas how long that takes.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It may take a month or more. You can help the situation by manually removing them to speed up the process.

 

[KJ]

There is a product, used in organic agriculture to control slugs and snails, that could be efficient to control vermetid: Ferric phosphate.

The trademark of the product is Ferramol® Organic, but for the purpose of experimentation I believe that the use of saturated GFO may be attempted by the aquarist. Ideally, the saturated GFO should be dry and ground by dosing the product on the display when the vermetid are with their nets extended to ensure they can ingest it, and then wait for the results.

There is no defined dose to use for this purpose. Caution is required.

The mechanism of action is explained here: The potential for slug control with ferric phosphate

It seems to be safe for animals except slugs and snails.

 

[Talo’s Reef]

It may take a month or more. You can help the situation by manually removing them to speed up the process.

Will my corals be ok not being fed for that long. Being photosynthetic and all, I still like to feed them.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Will my corals be ok not being fed for that long. Being photosynthetic and all, I still like to feed them.

If your water parameters are where they should be, N03 at 5-10ppm and P04 at trace of 0.02, you should be fine.

 

[w2inc]

There is a product, used in organic agriculture to control slugs and snails, that could be efficient to control vermetid: Ferric phosphate.

The trademark of the product is Ferramol® Organic, but for the purpose of experimentation I believe that the use of saturated GFO may be attempted by the aquarist. Ideally, the saturated GFO should be dry and ground by dosing the product on the display when the vermetid are with their nets extended to ensure they can ingest it, and then wait for the results.

There is no defined dose to use for this purpose. Caution is required.

The mechanism of action is explained here: The potential for slug control with ferric phosphate

It seems to be safe for animals except slugs and snails.

I am interested in trying this. After reading the article it seems promising. What is your idea on delivery? Are you saying to grind up GFO that is spent and sprinkle that into the tank while the snails are feeding?

Have you or anyone checked with @Randy Holmes-Farley to find out if ferric phosphate is even solvable in seawater. I am not a chemist but looking around it appears that it may be inert when put into a reef.

 

[Bfragale]

Bumble bee snails have helped me keep the Vermited snails to a point I don’t really notice them often. I know there are some in there but the ones I can see and reach I get when I have hands in the tank, and the bumble bee snails seem to help with the rest. I notice they seem to be most effective against the new and smaller ones. I’ve been batting them for about 9 months. I’m to a point now that I might be able to spot a hand full in the 90gallon display. Granted I never had a infestation like I’ve seen in other posts but I had a lot and now very few and less as time goes on. All I did was reduce the reef roid feedings and add bumble bee snails as well as manually remove all I could and superglued a few.

just wanted to share my experience. I know many say bumble bee snails don’t always work, and by no means are they a “cure all” but they did help me in the fight.

good luck

 

[Robertellis30]

Bumble bee snails have helped me keep the Vermited snails to a point I don’t really notice them often. I know there are some in there but the ones I can see and reach I get when I have hands in the tank, and the bumble bee snails seem to help with the rest. I notice they seem to be most effective against the new and smaller ones. I’ve been batting them for about 9 months. I’m to a point now that I might be able to spot a hand full in the 90gallon display. Granted I never had a infestation like I’ve seen in other posts but I had a lot and now very few and less as time goes on. All I did was reduce the reef roid feedings and add bumble bee snails as well as manually remove all I could and superglued a few.

just wanted to share my experience. I know many say bumble bee snails don’t always work, and by no means are they a “cure all” but they did help me in the fight.

good luck

I have some bumble bees on order. Did they clear out the rest of the snails in the tank? Not sure if I should start fishing some out prior to throwing in the bumble bees

 

[SamMule]

Vermetid snails are devilspawn. I had an infestation on some rock I bought. Some of them survived a week in bleach solution and another 10 days or so sitting in the garage drying out...
so I canned that batch of rock and started fresh with new stuff.
If I see one in my tank, it gets mashed immediately.

 

[Bfragale]

I have some bumble bees on order. Did they clear out the rest of the snails in the tank? Not sure if I should start fishing some out prior to throwing in the bumble bees

they do not mess with any other snails in my tank. They are smaller then all the other snails. I added 24 to 90 gallons. So I added a lot, and have seen no adverse results.
Good luck!