little tubes putting out slime?

danzx · 09/29/2009, 02:11 PM

hey guys im new to this site, i have some experience in saltwater mostly threw trial and error lol but ive noticed some small tubes growing on my live rock kinda like the little feather duster but theres is no duster that comes out, but when i stir the tank up they put out strigs of slime out from there tips , there only about half a center meter long but the slime can be up to 3 or 4 inchs i have a mixed reef can these things be a problem or are they just consumeing waste? thanks

Sugar Magnolia · 09/29/2009, 02:13 PM

Those are vermatid snails, detritus collectors. They do tend to irritate the corals.

Ritorix · 09/29/2009, 02:16 PM

Those are like fishing lines, when the water gets food in it they put those out and reel it in. You will see a bunch of little strings in the water, that may get all stuck up with food bits.

danzx · 09/29/2009, 02:21 PM

should i try to get rid of them? is there a way to get rid of them?

Fretfreak13 · 09/29/2009, 02:23 PM

They're beneficial, but if you want to get rid for them just crush their tubes. Personally I think they're kind of an eyesore.

09/29/2009, 02:11 PM	#1
danzx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 11	little tubes putting out slime? hey guys im new to this site, i have some experience in saltwater mostly threw trial and error lol but ive noticed some small tubes growing on my live rock kinda like the little feather duster but theres is no duster that comes out, but when i stir the tank up they put out strigs of slime out from there tips , there only about half a center meter long but the slime can be up to 3 or 4 inchs i have a mixed reef can these things be a problem or are they just consumeing waste? thanks

09/29/2009, 02:13 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Those are vermatid snails, detritus collectors. They do tend to irritate the corals. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/29/2009, 02:16 PM	#3
Ritorix Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 78	Those are like fishing lines, when the water gets food in it they put those out and reel it in. You will see a bunch of little strings in the water, that may get all stuck up with food bits.

09/29/2009, 02:21 PM	#4
danzx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 11	should i try to get rid of them? is there a way to get rid of them?

09/29/2009, 02:23 PM	#5
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	They're beneficial, but if you want to get rid for them just crush their tubes. Personally I think they're kind of an eyesore.