Another strange tube worm

jlinzmaier

Premium Member
I have several little tubes that are growing all over my rock. They are quite hard (calcifying) but they don't have a crown like a tube worm. Instead, they put out small threads which seem to be put out to collect food.

They've taken over and are growing everywhere!!! I have some growing next to an encrusting montipora and the monitpora grew over the top of them. I thought they would just get covered and die - nope! Their growing faster than the monti and now the monti is growing in a screwed up pattern as it's trying to grow around the tube.

They are about 1/4 to 1/2 in long and are simply a little tube with something living inside. Any ideas on what they are and how I can get rid of them? Do any other critters eat them?
 
Spiorbids, if they're about half an inch long tube or less. I had a purple tang take after them. They're fairly harmless.
 
Yep. Vermetid snails. I've read butterfly fish and hermit crabs are effective predators. Anyone have any other suggestions?
 
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