Tube Worm ID

[moze229]

These have been popping up lately. I have two on my clam and there's one on the bottom of a frag that I have. They don't seem to affect anything. The tube is hard, but has a soft outer texture. The worms seem to be slightly exposed 24 hours a day. I never see them retract unless I try and touch them with something. The head has two antennas. I'd like to eradicate but I haven't been successful. I've only tried really hot 0 TDS water, but I'm afraid of hurting the clam.

This photo was taken early in the morning, and I just turned the white LEDs on so that I could take a photo. That's why the clam looks the way it does. It's also hard for me to get a good photo because the glass I was shooting through is bowed. I added as an attachment because I'm too lazy to link it anywhere right now. Any help on an ID would be appreciated.

EDIT - these are two separate worms on the clam. I wanted to clarify, because in the photo it looks like it could be one.

 

[cloak]

Vermetid snails. Check this out.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

 

[moze229]

Thanks. I'm surprised that I've never seen this particular type in any of my tanks before. Now onto research on how to get rid of them.

 

[cloak]

Some people have had success putting a small dab of super glue gel on the tip.

 

[moze229]

Yeah. I might give that a shot. I've also been reading about sticking a needle down into the hole and wiggling a bit. I've also read that they peel off if you can get a hold of them just right. Hermit crabs are another possibility.

If they were anywhere but on my dang clam, I wouldn't be worried about it. I don't like stuff on, in, or around my clam.

 

[moze229]

Ok.

I've successfully superglued one of them into the tube, but a week later he's got a hole on the other side, sticking his head out with slime everywhere.

The other one, I tried taking a stiff needle and sticking it in there, but he just retracts into the cone and I can't get to him. I ripped his tube apart in little pieces, but in 4 days it was back, and even longer than before. Now my clam has a small portion of the mantle retracted because of irritation.

If these guys were on a rock I would just nuke the whole rock. Since they are on a clam, I'm not sure how much more aggressive I can get here. Any other ideas?

 

[sellersmd]

Try carefully injecting 2M sodium hydroxide? This is how I kill aiptasia, and it precipitates out of the water fast enough that it only kills what you directly apply it to.

 

[moze229]

I obliterated the little .... things with a larger needle. It took a while, but I just kept picking away until I could pull them out of the shell. Unfortunately, I lost one of them in the water column. Does anyone know if they can rebuild a shell once they are grown? I assume so, but I think I injured it pretty good at least.

I suppose it doesn't matter. As long as the clam is eradicated of them that's all that matters to me. I was hoping one of my fish would be interested in a meal, but they weren't interested.

 

[willyboy]

I used to have a few of these suckers and the mucus strings that they "reach" out with are pretty fascinating to watch as they collect small food particles in the water then retrieve the strings into their mouths. Of course my corals didn't think it was fascinating.