Strange worm growing on clam

[jpa0741]

I have noticed a strange worm growing on my clam shell. It has a hard shell growing in a spiral shape. There is something living inside it. I can see two tenicles sticking out the top and retracts when something goes by. Clam looks healthy other wise. I took the pic at night so you can see it better with the mantle retracted, Is this something I need to worry about.

Here is a pic how the clams looks during the day. Notice the clown goby hiding.

 

[Sssaltwater]

These snails seem to come on clams quite often.

Depending on the direction of your current flow they are generally harmless to clams, however they are broadcast spawners that will propagate in your system. They throw out a sticky thread that can sufficate SPS corals, damage tissue or eventually kill the whole colony.

Whenever I get them in on clams I take a pair of side cutters and very carefully extract the animal off of the shell of the clam. Make sure that you get all the tissue off of the shell. Usually when there's one larger web shooter there are some small babies forming so make sure to look the clam over carefully.

There is also another type of web shooting snail that has a straight brownish tan tube and does the same exact thing but is much smaller.

Good luck, Rick Soutas

 

[jpa0741]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13330491#post13330491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SoutasSaltwater
These snails seem to come on clams quite often.

Depending on the direction of your current flow they are generally harmless to clams, however they are broadcast spawners that will propagate in your system. They throw out a sticky thread that can sufficate SPS corals, damage tissue or eventually kill the whole colony.

Whenever I get them in on clams I take a pair of side cutters and very carefully extract the animal off of the shell of the clam. Make sure that you get all the tissue off of the shell. Usually when there's one larger web shooter there are some small babies forming so make sure to look the clam over carefully.

There is also another type of web shooting snail that has a straight brownish tan tube and does the same exact thing but is
much smaller.

Good luck, Rick Soutas

Thanks for the info. You can actually see some of the web on the clam in the second pic. I always thought it was from the slimer right next to it.

 

[Amazon4]

I had one of these come in on a crocea. Although I usually leave things alone, I didn't want more in my tank. So I sealed the opening with a little super glue. Took care of it.

 

[jpa0741]

Good idea. The strange thing is I have had this clam for 2 years. This thing just popped up a couple months ago.

 

[scapes]

vermetid snails

 

[johnnybravo234]

You may want to scrape that algae off too. It can grow out of conrtol.