What’s on my fighting conch?

[ReefCheef]

Does anyone have any clue what these things on the conch’s shell are? One appears to be some type of flatworm and one type looks like little volcanos. Should i remove him from the tank or are they harmless?

 

[ReefCheef]

Bump

 

[Sharkbait19]

The “volcano” looking things are a type of tunicate - like a barnacle. Harmless.
Can’t make out exactly what the flatworm is, but it does look like one.

 

[Just John]

The empty barnacles are dead. The one to the right will have a little fan that comes out for feeding. Really cool. I wish I had a whole rock of them.

 

[damsels are not mean]

looks like empty barnacle shells to me but who knows what the flatworm is. I would try to get that out.

 

[ReefCheef]

Thank you guys!!

 

[ReefCheef]

looks like empty barnacle shells to me but who knows what the flatworm is. I would try to get that out.

Is there anyway to remove the flatworms from his shell or should I just throw him away?

 

[damsels are not mean]

Is there anyway to remove the flatworms from his shell or should I just throw him away?

Try to just scrape them off or siphon them off. Waste of a conch to throw it away!

 

[ClownSchool]

Is there anyway to remove the flatworms from his shell or should I just throw him away?

You may want to look into PraziPro. It’s used to treat certain types of flatworms but, I’m just guessing

 

[ReefCheef]

I definitely dont want to throw him away! I'd feel terrible. That said, I've gone to extreme lengths to keep pests out of my new system and I got 4 conchs total only this one has worms on it. I'd rather sacrifice him than infest my brand new 600 gallon system. I took him out and tried scraping them off with a razor blade but theyre really on there tight. I dont think I can get them off without breaking his shell. Sort of at a loss as to what to do..

 

[ReefCheef]

You may want to look into PraziPro

Thank you I actually have some on hand!

 

[damsels are not mean]

Could try holding just the shell in freshwater. The flatworm will get shocked and slough off. Just don't let the conch itself get a bath.

 

[WheatToast]

The “volcano” looking things are a type of tunicate - like a barnacle. Harmless.

Barnacles and tunicates are not related (though they are both filter feeders). Barnacles are crustaceans (like crabs) while tunicates are their own separate subphylum.

Is there anyway to remove the flatworms from his shell or should I just throw him away?

Those "worms" might actually be the remains of barnacles that were previously scraped off, though pictures under white light (ex. with a flashlight) would help for identification.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Barnacles and tunicates are not related (though they are both filter feeders). Barnacles are crustaceans (like crabs) while tunicates are their own separate subphylum.

Wow! Never knew that, I figured they were tunicates due to similar morphology (filter feeding tube). Learn something new every day!

 

[Just John]

Could try holding just the shell in freshwater. The flatworm will get shocked and slough off. Just don't let the conch itself get a bath.

Also, I think holding the shell in hydrogen peroxide will definitely make them drop off within a minute or so.

 

[ReefCheef]

Any chance the ones that look like flatworms are tunicates?

 

[ReefCheef]

I held the top of his shell in RODI water for several minutes but nothing seemed to happen. Just put him in a jug of tank water with an airstone until I figure out what to do. I contacted the vendor and he said he thought they were tunicates, but I want to be sure before he goes back in. The 3 others I got dont have a single thing on any of them.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Might be tunicates or something else. I mean honestly while it looks like a flatworm there is no specific kind of flatworm that is a known pest that looks like that AFAIK and there are a lot of creatures in the sea. The fact that it survived a freshwater dip and razor blade suggests it's not a flatworm as those guys are not that strong.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Has it moved at all form that spot yet?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is there anyway to remove the flatworms from his shell or should I just throw him away?

best bet to stop any worms and protect the conch is to place a dab of gel superglue from the dollar store over each hole and you will rid of unwanted critters.