Will this tube worm kill coral?

[FishNerdVlogsYT]

I just noticed a fairly large tube worm living under one of my montipora colonies. It shoots out a “spider” web and then drags it back in to clean it a few minutes later. Is this a bad pest? Ive heard that they can kill coral but i dont know its name.

 

[Justin Cook]

Kind of. They don't do it directly but when the water gets a little dirty, they release their slime web to capture nutrients. I've found dead spots on SPS where the slime web irritated the coral's flesh to the point of death or zero growth. In fact, I just had to crush one that was killing a small section of monti cap. I've had monti eating nudi's in the past and totally freaked out when I saw the dead spot. Once I realized it was only this slime throwing worm, I removed the problem and the monti healed up quickly.

EDIT: Just realized the pic you posted was of a monti cap. I'd try to remove the worm if you can easily do it. If not, smoosh some crazy glue in his hole and he won't bother you again.

 

[FishNerdVlogsYT]

Kind of. They don't do it directly but when the water gets a little dirty, they release their slime web to capture nutrients. I've found dead spots on SPS where the slime web irritated the coral's flesh to the point of death or zero growth. In fact, I just had to crush one that was killing a small section of monti cap. I've had monti eating nudi's in the past and totally freaked out when I saw the dead spot. Once I realized it was only this slime throwing worm, I removed the problem and the monti healed up quickly.

What did you do to get rid of it? Just pick it off somehow? Or crush it like you mentioned?

Edit: nvm just saw your edit [emoji23]

 

[DSC reef]

A vermetid, you can glue the hole shut on the tube.

 

[Justin Cook]

I took a pair of coral fragging shears and smashed the shell up. Sometimes you can get them to completely come off the rock if you cut under them but smashing the shell is just as effective. If you smash it, the hermit crabs will take care of the rest.