maharba-wrx
New Member
How hardy are vermited snails? I have a rock that has plenty on the underside.. if I take that rock out and place it in fresh water for 2 days will the snails die? Even tho the tube is still visible?
Vermited snails
- Thread starter maharba-wrx
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Utubereefer
10K Club member
- Joined
- May 14, 2018
- Messages
- 11,647
- Reaction score
- 20,064
Just break them off. You’ll probably lose the beneficial bacteria in a 2 day freshwater dip anyway
Utubereefer
10K Club member
- Joined
- May 14, 2018
- Messages
- 11,647
- Reaction score
- 20,064
Bone cutters
Really hardy! I bet some would survive a one hour freshwater dip because they will retract into their shells. Some may also be deep in the rock. You snails are microscopic too.
X2 on acid bath. That will not only kill them, but also dissolve their shells like butter.
EakTheFreak
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2019
- Messages
- 611
- Reaction score
- 524
Bumblebee snails ALL DAY!!
areefer01
2500 Club Member
So out of the 8 replies so far @Reefahholic has the most sure fire way to rid said rock, or rocks, of vermited snails. To supplement what they said using muriatic acid one needs to be safe and it needs to be done out doors. It will not only kill the entire rock and its respected bio diversity it will remove anywhere from 10 to 25% of the rocks surface area. So in short these rocks will be starting from scratch - all over again.
But wait, there is more. These rocks have the snails. It goes further than that. Your plumbing more than likely also has the snails. So does the sump or side of pumps and other equipment or even darker areas of the display like a mini crypitc zone. What I'm saying is that you know you have them because they are visible but I'm also saying there are more. So remove the rock, acid trip it, and you will more than likely have them again in a few months. The root of the problem isn't solved.
I'm not so sure Bumblebee snails really do the trick either. I know there is a lot on this forum with anecdotal evidence but when one widens the search across other articles and forums the answer is usually vague without proof of said snail eating them. It is true they are predators so other snails and clams are at risk should you go down this path. I've also read wrasses and some crabs like mitrax or emerald but again not seen any proof outside of wrasses snipping the cloud of food from manual removal. So to circle back what to do:
1. Dental device, pick, and jab inside the tube reaching down inside to crush snail
2. Bone cutters at base of rock
3. Super glue - glove up, dab on finger, place finder on worm
4. Forceps - clamp at base and break off
5. Remove rock or rocks or equipment with pests to clean
6. Citrix acid soaks on pumps - might as well clean equipment while purging snails
7. Reduce feeding if you can (stop reef roids, other coral foods) to the bare minimum while doing any of these
8 Lastly - Muriatic acid bath - last resort in my opinion
If you look at that list you see that I do not promote any "known - factual" predator of vermited snails. Everything is manual removal over time. That is all I got. All the best and remember nothing happens fast in this hobby. Especially with these since there is not a known predator for home aquaria.
But wait, there is more. These rocks have the snails. It goes further than that. Your plumbing more than likely also has the snails. So does the sump or side of pumps and other equipment or even darker areas of the display like a mini crypitc zone. What I'm saying is that you know you have them because they are visible but I'm also saying there are more. So remove the rock, acid trip it, and you will more than likely have them again in a few months. The root of the problem isn't solved.
I'm not so sure Bumblebee snails really do the trick either. I know there is a lot on this forum with anecdotal evidence but when one widens the search across other articles and forums the answer is usually vague without proof of said snail eating them. It is true they are predators so other snails and clams are at risk should you go down this path. I've also read wrasses and some crabs like mitrax or emerald but again not seen any proof outside of wrasses snipping the cloud of food from manual removal. So to circle back what to do:
1. Dental device, pick, and jab inside the tube reaching down inside to crush snail
2. Bone cutters at base of rock
3. Super glue - glove up, dab on finger, place finder on worm
4. Forceps - clamp at base and break off
5. Remove rock or rocks or equipment with pests to clean
6. Citrix acid soaks on pumps - might as well clean equipment while purging snails
7. Reduce feeding if you can (stop reef roids, other coral foods) to the bare minimum while doing any of these
8 Lastly - Muriatic acid bath - last resort in my opinion
If you look at that list you see that I do not promote any "known - factual" predator of vermited snails. Everything is manual removal over time. That is all I got. All the best and remember nothing happens fast in this hobby. Especially with these since there is not a known predator for home aquaria.
Yes, muriatic acid is not to be inhaled. Can cause irreversible lung damage. Make sure to wear safety glasses and gloves. Also recommend picking up a 3m painters mask with vapor filters when you grab the acid at Lowes or Home Depot.
Make sure to add water to the vat first and then the acid. Stir it well before you add the rocks.
Make sure to add water to the vat first and then the acid. Stir it well before you add the rocks.
Clown2020
Active Member
If your not worried about 100% elimination you could just break them off as you see them and superglue over anything that is left. 3 months ago I had heaps now there are maybe 5 or 10 that I spot and break off when doing maintenance.
personally I have not noticed any impact on corals and there appearance in small numbers does not bother me so for my situation I don’t see the need for more aggressive control methods
also if they grow near an encrusting coral you can let the coral encrust it, I’ve done this with Monti and now have a long stalk of Monti once the worm got to the length I wanted the Monti to cover I just super glued the end to kill the worm and let the Monti fully cover it. Now I have this unusual round tube of Monti sticking off the side of the frag
personally I have not noticed any impact on corals and there appearance in small numbers does not bother me so for my situation I don’t see the need for more aggressive control methods
also if they grow near an encrusting coral you can let the coral encrust it, I’ve done this with Monti and now have a long stalk of Monti once the worm got to the length I wanted the Monti to cover I just super glued the end to kill the worm and let the Monti fully cover it. Now I have this unusual round tube of Monti sticking off the side of the frag
vetteguy53081
Well known Member and monster tank lover
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
RGB
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
West Palm Beach Reefer
Hospitality Award
Ocala Reef Club Member
305 Reef Club
Wisco Reefers
Midwest Reefer
Fish Medic
MAC of SW Florida
Rock Pool Reef Keepers
R2R Secret Santa 2023
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
Whats with the acid and boe cutters, etc?? If you snap it off, it will simply build a new tube.
Simply break off at the base with pliers. If You can get a hold of the base, you have two options:
a- Carefully place a dab of Gel superglue from the dollar store over the opening. It will either get stuck to the glue or become trapped and starve
OR b- add a bumble bee snail which eats these like candy
These things are like roaches and often survive anything
Simply break off at the base with pliers. If You can get a hold of the base, you have two options:
a- Carefully place a dab of Gel superglue from the dollar store over the opening. It will either get stuck to the glue or become trapped and starve
OR b- add a bumble bee snail which eats these like candy
These things are like roaches and often survive anything
areefer01
2500 Club Member
Acid is if you want to 100% clear it.
Pliers, bone cutters, forceps, dental device, all will reach through the tube and to the base of snail/rock. This is the only way as you noted otherwise it will just make a new one.
Bubble bee snails - no real proof these do the trick although a few on the web say it does anecdotally. Your mileage may vary.
