What is this tiny white crustacean?

[Gary S]

Hey guys I bought some new soft corals and found a small white bug looking thing crawling around a tube worm. Any ideas?

Also is it okay/beneficial to keep the tube worm?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Depends on what comes out the ends....if sweepers, it's a vermetid snail.....not good.

 

[Gary S]

Depends on what comes out the ends....if sweepers, it's a vermetid snail.....not good.

What about that tiny white bug thing on the middle of the tube?

 

[Gary S]

What about that tiny white bug thing on the middle of the tube?

.

 

[cristata.reef]

Likely a copepod, need a better picture to be sure. and the worm is a hitchhiking feather duster; you can see the gills sticking out of the tube

 

[redfishbluefish]

Too small to see....but most likely a pod. If it looks like a bug....body with six of so legs, it's an isopod. If it looks like a miniature shrimp, and amphipod.

 

[Gary S]

Likely a copepod, need a better picture to be sure. and the worm is a hitchhiking feather duster; you can see the gills sticking out of the tube

That's what it looks like...Are sure that tube isnt a vermited snail? I haven't seen anything come out yet.

 

[Gary S]

Is there a way to coax whatever it is out of the tube?

 

[redfishbluefish]

The only way I know is to first pour an adult beverage of your choice, now sit back and wait! Might actually take a second drink.

 

[Gary S]

The only way I know is to first pour an adult beverage of your choice, now sit back and wait! Might actually take a second drink.

Will do. In the event it is vermited, how to I stop it from spreading?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Snap or cut off as much as the tube as you can and then fill/cover it with superglue.

 

[Gary S]

Snap or cut off as much as the tube as you can and then fill/cover it with superglue.

I don't have any glue...will rock epoxy work?

Also how fast do these spread?

 

[Gary S]

What's the verdict?

 

[cristata.reef]

Could be a vermetid now that I look at it. Is the shell/tube stiff or somewhat flexible?

 

[Gary S]

Could be a vermetid now that I look at it. Is the shell/tube stiff or somewhat flexible?

Hard as a rock

 

[cristata.reef]

Then its vermetid. No holds barred, kill it with fire (or superglue)

 

[Gary S]

Then its vermetid. No holds barred, kill it with fire (or superglue)

I chose to brave it and pull the coral out of the water and scrape off every one individually (evidently there were more than one). Am now vermited free.