zooanthid covered coco worm

[Ron Popeil]

so i have two coco worms ive had nearly two years now. by all accounts, they appear to be healthy and thriving. however, in the last 4 months or so, both of their tubes have become covered in zooanthids. now at first, i didnt think much of it. but lately, it seems they have begun to encroah upon the opening of their tubes. they dont seem capable of extending their heads out as far as they are supposed to. are they being stung? just irritated?

i tried to shave off the polyps from the entrance to their tubes, but it only seemed to break the fragile rim, and did nothing to the polyps. it really appears as if their is little i can do now.

will the worm be just fine?

will they just...move out or start a new tube entrance somewhere else?

any similar experiences from anyone out there? any suggestions? thoughts?

thank you!

 

[EmergencyDpt]

I've not had that problem but I imagine that the worm could go somewhere else if he was really stressed. I think that's what he would do in the wild anyway.

 

[bluenassarius]

u got a pic of that?

 

[LeslieH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6535741#post6535741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EmergencyDpt
I've not had that problem but I imagine that the worm could go somewhere else if he was really stressed. I think that's what he would do in the wild anyway.

Not a serpulid polychaete, the group to which coco worms belong. They can repair the tubes but usually die if forced out of them. They only leave the tubes in the most stressful of situations.

I don't have any good suggestions for getting rid of the zoanthids, sorry.