Weird Stringy thing on shell

[SenorBubs]

Just found this thing on my Halloween Hermit today after having him a while. But I’ve definitely noticed this weird string on him before.
Hopefully it’s not harmful... Any help would be appreciated

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Picture?

Vermetid snails are known to attach to snail shells and they send out strings to collect particles in the water column.

Look up a vermetid snail

 

[SenorBubs]

That might be it! What a strange looking snail. Working on posting the video now

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

If it is, grab that snail and remove the vermetid from it. They will propagate to plague proportions.

 

[SenorBubs]

 

[Maritimer]

Looks like a vermetid to me . . .

~B.

 

[SenorBubs]

Oh no... thanks for letting me know. Hopefully it hasn’t started spreading yet

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I can sort of see the the swirl of the vermited. Remove it at the base...

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Oh no... thanks for letting me know. Hopefully it hasn’t started spreading yet

They're not harmful, they just become a nuisance in no time. Some report that the stringy nets irritate corals eventually resulting in death...

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I dont think its a vermited, that looks too big to be one. Im assuming thats a conch shell that your hermit is in.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I dont think its a vermited, that looks too big to be one. Im assuming thats a conch shell that your hermit is in.

Theres a few types of vermetid. The little tiny tubes that are harmless, and then theres the ones where the tubes are quite bigger.

Here's a picture of a few that I pulled out of my tank

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Wow, I had no idea those things are massive

 

[SenorBubs]

I think it’s absolutely vermatid. So thanks everyone for the advice! I popped the sucker off and now will keep an eye out for any more of those strings