What’s on my candy cane stalk?

[Louisethenewbie]

Can anyone help with identifying what is on the stalk of my candy cane coral? I’ve had the candy cane for 6 weeks & it was dipped in Red Sea DipX. I have noticed this strange thing on the stalk but candy cane seems fine otherwise. I would appreciate any help on what it might be. Thanks

 

[Chrisv.]

Can anyone help with identifying what is on the stalk of my candy cane coral? I’ve had the candy cane for 6 weeks & it was dipped in Red Sea DipX. I have noticed this strange thing on the stalk but candy cane seems fine otherwise. I would appreciate any help on what it might be. Thanks

you forgot to add the photo...but my vote with no information and no real info is that its a vermited snail!

 

[A Young Reefer]

Can anyone help with identifying what is on the stalk of my candy cane coral? I’ve had the candy cane for 6 weeks & it was dipped in Red Sea DipX. I have noticed this strange thing on the stalk but candy cane seems fine otherwise. I would appreciate any help on what it might be. Thanks

Yes that is a vermited snail. you can glue the tip shut. however I would recommend bumble bee snails if you have more in the tank.

 

[Chrisv.]

interesting, the photo didn't originally load for me on this post. If there is only one of these, deal with it now.

 

[Louisethenewbie]

Yes that is a vermited snail. you can glue the tip shut. however I would recommend bumble bee snails if you have more in the tank.

Thanks for speedy response. I think there’s one on my Blastomussa too but can’t see any more than that. Where do they come from? I will try gluing both & source some bumble bee snails.

 

[Louisethenewbie]

interesting, the photo didn't originally load for me on this post. If there is only one of these, deal with it now.

Sorry… I didn’t click add on the photos I selected initially. Have now added photos & I presume you confirm the ver mites snail ID? Thanks

 

[A Young Reefer]

Thanks for speedy response. I think there’s one on my Blastomussa too but can’t see any more than that. Where do they come from? I will try gluing both & source some bumble bee snails.

common Hitchikers, on live rock or corals.

 

[Chrisv.]

Sorry… I didn’t click add on the photos I selected initially. Have now added photos & I presume you confirm the ver mites snail ID? Thanks

Yep! ID is correct.

 

[Louisethenewbie]

you forgot to add the photo...but my vote with no information and no real info is that its a vermited snail!

Thanks… I’m new to the hobby & there seems to be so much I have to learn! Have been madly googling for the last 20 minutes on how best to remove vermited snails. Not sure if manual removal will be successful or to try gluing instead?

 

[Chrisv.]

Thanks… I’m new to the hobby & there seems to be so much I have to learn! Have been madly googling for the last 20 minutes on how best to remove vermited snails. Not sure if manual removal will be successful or to try gluing instead?

The vast amount of information that's out there is one of the coolest parts of this hobby. After two and a half decades of reef keeping I am still learning new things and encountering new challenges. So welcome to the hobby!

I tend to go at these guys with coral cutters or even scrape them off with a razor blade. You can glue them too. People talk about gluing the opening, but honestly I'd probably just put a gob of glue over the whole thing. Some folks say that when they glue just the opening, the snails makes a new hole at another place in its shell. I've not seen it, but I have no reason to doubt it.

These are sort of a common annoyance. Most tanks end up with them eventually. They come in on frags and rock. If you want to find all of them in your tank, put some reef roids or other powdered coral food in the water and watch the tank. These produce a mucous when they are trying to feed and the powdered coral food elicits a pretty strong feeding response. These are an annoyance more than anything else. Once they are established, they are pretty much established. I've had moderate luck with bumblebee snails. Doesn't hurt to add a few.

 

[A Young Reefer]

I have wrote this article not so long ago; might benefit you.

Guide to Common Hitchhikers in Reef Tanks

Guide to Common Hitchhikers in Reef Tanks by @A Young reefer The purpose of this thread is to hopefully assist hobbyists in obtaining the correct id and method of treatment to common hitchhikers. Both; the good ones and the bad ones. 1)...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Louisethenewbie]

The vast amount of information that's out there is one of the coolest parts of this hobby. After two and a half decades of reef keeping I am still learning new things and encountering new challenges. So welcome to the hobby!

I tend to go at these guys with coral cutters or even scrape them off with a razor blade. You can glue them too. People talk about gluing the opening, but honestly I'd probably just put a gob of glue over the whole thing. Some folks say that when they glue just the opening, the snails makes a new hole at another place in its shell. I've not seen it, but I have no reason to doubt it.

These are sort of a common annoyance. Most tanks end up with them eventually. They come in on frags and rock. If you want to find all of them in your tank, put some reef roids or other powdered coral food in the water and watch the tank. These produce a mucous when they are trying to feed and the powdered coral food elicits a pretty strong feeding response. These are an annoyance more than anything else. Once they are established, they are pretty much established. I've had moderate luck with bumblebee snails. Doesn't hurt to add a few.

Thanks for information & advice

 

[Chrisv.]

Thanks for information & advice

Any time!

 

[Louisethenewbie]

I have wrote this article not so long ago; might benefit you.

Guide to Common Hitchhikers in Reef Tanks

Guide to Common Hitchhikers in Reef Tanks by @A Young reefer The purpose of this thread is to hopefully assist hobbyists in obtaining the correct id and method of treatment to common hitchhikers. Both; the good ones and the bad ones. 1)...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks. A very helpful article for newcomers like myself. So much I still have to learn!

 

[A Young Reefer]

Thanks. A very helpful article for newcomers like myself. So much I still have to learn!

happy to help!

 

[jimk60]

I've never been able to eliminate them completely only manage them. Overfeeding will definitely cause their population to explode. As stated they love foods like reef roids. coral snow is a product to clean up your water and therefore starve them out.

 

[Mark Bradley]

If you have one vermetid snail you most likely have many more. I deal with them by a mixture of breaking them off and bumble bee snails (which are quite attractive too if/when you can see them). I find them very lazy so place them very close to where the vermetids are!