how do i get rid of these

[j5aliv]

i have these things all over the rock in my tank. i don' t what they're called but they look like the stalks of feather dusters but don't have the feathery part at the tips. they're not causing problems, they're just annoying to have in the tank. every time i feed the tanks they somehow know this and produce this mucous that catches the food. it looks like snot. also when i have to move live rock sometimes i cut myself on these things. they also get in the filters as well. i would like to know the easiest way to get rid of them. the best way i would like to get rid of them is whether or not something eats these things. i could post a picture but this site doesn't like the type of picture i have.

 

[nvmy22s]

i forget the name of them too. i only get rid of the ones that seem to bother corals. i was told that they make good filter feeders or something for the tank. i just crush them when they grow near my corals.

 

[ILoveReefer]

Darn it. I also forgot there name and can't seem to find them in any of my books. Harmless filter feeders and their stalk are very strong. I don't know of any means to remove these guys.

 

[tigereye37]

It sounds like you're talking about Vermatid snails.......... I don't know if they are good or not, but i have them too. Sometimes i just snap all their tubes off with my tongs....

 

[j5aliv]

i just want to get rid of them not only because they let this mucous stuff out but that every time i move rock around or clean out my filters they cut my hands on occasion. i'm about 2 steps away from doing freshwater dips on all my rock but i don't want to kill my rock if i don't have to. by the way they're not snails.

 

[skippy2]

You are descibing vermatid snails whether they look like snails or not. Do a google search if you think I'm wrong. Hopefully you'll see a pic of what we are both talking about. They are filter feeders but, as you found out, can be a pest.

 

[finsurgeon]

Mine have spread through my tank, and they definitely block growth of any coral that comes near them. They are very hard to break, but my coral ("toenail") clippers have worked fairly well. You have to cut far enough down the stalk to get the animal, and do it quick enough to keep them from receding below your cut. Mine have stopped the spread of very actively proliferating palys and have decimated some blue shrooms, as well as gumming up and harming SPS and some sponges. I'd advise nuke them now - I wish I could go back to the days of only 1 or 2 and take them out. Another trick I've been told is to fill the end of the tube with superglue gel, but have not tried it yet. Vermetid snails is absolutely correct, by the way.

 

[j5aliv]

well thanks for the replies. i guess these are those snails even though they have no shells and don't move. these guys have to go

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

vermetid snails are sessile...they grow tubes..that look like twisted red snot..excrete a mucous web that catches food and debris in the water column...and as mentioned they will wreak havoc on your corals...they dont have any direct effects to them other then irritating them enough they wont open...eventually the coral will starve.. and die..

i just break them off when ever i can...or i smash them up...not sure if that is the best way though..

 

[Pea-brain]

I've never found them to be a problem....O well, one man's cool little oddity animal, another's pest.

Dan