Worms Killing Snails?

jerryvan · 05/14/2008, 07:07 PM

Hello-- I have notice I have trouble keeping snails of all kinds alive. The other morning i came down stairs to the tank (still dark) and I noticed a snail fliped over and a worm moving away. Could worms be killing them? Jerry

jamest0o0 · 05/14/2008, 07:49 PM

It's most likely a bristle worm and chances are it is not a predatory one, but to be sure you should post some pics of the worm. A lot of people tend to blame bristle worms because something will die and they will find bristle worms all over it eating it.

LeslieH · 05/15/2008, 12:16 AM

Actually there is one family of worms which include known worm killers. Oenonidae, genera Oenone and Halla. These smother snails & clams with mucus that contains paralytic agents. If your dead snails are covered with mucus it's probably due to one of these. If not, then maybe something else is killing them and the worms are just scavenging the remains as James suggested.

Merit · 05/15/2008, 07:07 AM

How quickly did the worm move away? There are worms that will help themselves to snails, etc. I had a Eunice worm in my tank that would munch on snails, crabs, corals, etc.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php

jamest0o0 · 05/15/2008, 02:07 PM

Yeah like I said it IS possible, just not likely. Post pics if you want help with ID.

jerryvan · 05/15/2008, 06:13 PM

Hello--Thanks for the insite. I will try to get some pictures of the worms after it get dark. I never see the worms unless the lights are out. The one that I saw didn't move away too quickly. I never noticed any mucus on them.
It seems to attack the turbos more than anything. The margurita snails seem OK but they are mostly on the glass and rocks.
I had bought 6 Mexican Turbos for my HA and in a week 5 are gone. I dont know if this is important or not but there is always a round coulourfull disc beside the Mexican snails.
I changed my tank Easter weekend and already I can count 12 turbo shells and 1 conch.----Jerry

bertoni · 05/15/2008, 06:38 PM

The disc might be the operculum, which is the "cover" for the opening in the snail shell. I suspect the problem is with the Turbo snails, not the worm. They might have been treated poorly in transit, or the acclimation might have been a problem.

I agree that some worms will prey on snails, though.

05/14/2008, 07:07 PM	#1
jerryvan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bothwell, Ont. Posts: 79	Worms Killing Snails? Hello-- I have notice I have trouble keeping snails of all kinds alive. The other morning i came down stairs to the tank (still dark) and I noticed a snail fliped over and a worm moving away. Could worms be killing them? Jerry

05/14/2008, 07:49 PM	#2
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	It's most likely a bristle worm and chances are it is not a predatory one, but to be sure you should post some pics of the worm. A lot of people tend to blame bristle worms because something will die and they will find bristle worms all over it eating it. __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

05/15/2008, 12:16 AM	#3
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Actually there is one family of worms which include known worm killers. Oenonidae, genera Oenone and Halla. These smother snails & clams with mucus that contains paralytic agents. If your dead snails are covered with mucus it's probably due to one of these. If not, then maybe something else is killing them and the worms are just scavenging the remains as James suggested. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

05/15/2008, 02:07 PM	#5
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	Yeah like I said it IS possible, just not likely. Post pics if you want help with ID. __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

05/15/2008, 06:38 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The disc might be the operculum, which is the "cover" for the opening in the snail shell. I suspect the problem is with the Turbo snails, not the worm. They might have been treated poorly in transit, or the acclimation might have been a problem. I agree that some worms will prey on snails, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/15/2008, 07:07 AM	#4
Merit Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 34	How quickly did the worm move away? There are worms that will help themselves to snails, etc. I had a Eunice worm in my tank that would munch on snails, crabs, corals, etc. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php

05/15/2008, 06:13 PM	#6
jerryvan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bothwell, Ont. Posts: 79	Hello--Thanks for the insite. I will try to get some pictures of the worms after it get dark. I never see the worms unless the lights are out. The one that I saw didn't move away too quickly. I never noticed any mucus on them. It seems to attack the turbos more than anything. The margurita snails seem OK but they are mostly on the glass and rocks. I had bought 6 Mexican Turbos for my HA and in a week 5 are gone. I dont know if this is important or not but there is always a round coulourfull disc beside the Mexican snails. I changed my tank Easter weekend and already I can count 12 turbo shells and 1 conch.----Jerry