vermetid snail killed my RBTA !!!!!!!

Meshmez · 12/19/2011, 08:12 PM

So yesterday my RBTA looked wonderful as it has for months, Today I get home from work and it is completely deflated an appears to have puked its guts out. ***? upon further inspection I find an impaled part of my RBTA hanging on a vermetid snail...

I'm REALLY bummed right now. This sucks. I broke off the snail and the nem seemed to react and pull itself in, im hoping for the best as i have heard of bta's going through PH's and living... but its not looking too good... any suggestions?

muttley000 · 12/19/2011, 08:38 PM

I've seen worse come back. I would have a large water change at the ready just in case. Are you sure the Vermetid did this?

tkeracer619 · 12/19/2011, 08:38 PM

As long as you have good water quality i bet it will make a full recovery.

Meshmez · 12/19/2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muttley000

I've seen worse come back. I would have a large water change at the ready just in case. Are you sure the Vermetid did this?

Its the only thing i can think of, everything else in the tank looks great still. no new fish or inverts that would have attacked it. and i found it impaled on the snail... My guess is something made it retract quickly and it scraped and impaled on the snail.

Now that i removed the snail and it was able to pull in, it looks like it have sucked its guts back in and is looking slightly better... Heres to hoping for a full recovery... its never fun to come home and see a nem with its guts sitting in front of it...

samstersam · 12/19/2011, 08:48 PM

[QUOTE=Meshmez;19647102] I find an impaled part of my RBTA hanging on a vermetid snail...
QUOTE]

I do not think the vermetid snail was the cause of the RBTA's suffering OR its death (if it should happen)

The width of a vermetid snail's tube is about a centimeter (maybe even smaller than). I think a healthy RBTA could recover from that pinhole type damage. I've seen clownfish rip out tentacles from RBTA's (innocently enough he just seemed to be "suckling" the tentacle, but the clownfish actually ripped off perhaps due to artificial environment? stress? inexperience?). I've seen from friends tanks, RBTA's getting sucked partially into intakes of powerheads too, but i've seen them survive the aftermath...IF the tanks environment is mature, stable and correct. Yes, even with innards spewing out like white curly, gooey threads.

Conclusively, impalement by the tube of a vermetid snail should not cause the demise of a previously healthy RBTA if it will stay consistently in a healthy, mature and stable environment. If it does deteriorate, then it was just catalylzied by the impalement, but would have still deteriorated eventually due to improper conditions.

So if you have a healthy 6+month old tank with stable conditions, proper chemistry, and keep it as such; then have no fear, it will recover. But if it dies from impalement of a vermetid snail tube, then your tank was never ready for an RBTA to begin with.

Robb in Austin · 12/19/2011, 08:51 PM

+1 to this ^

Meshmez · 12/19/2011, 08:54 PM

Well my tank has been up for over a year, and the nem has been apparently healthy and not moving around for 5-6 months, so im going to hope that everyones thoughts are correct, and it will recover!

Robb in Austin · 12/19/2011, 09:15 PM

Any breeding clowns hosting it?

My bta looked great until my clowns decided to get busy recently(I've had the clowns for 3+ years and they just now started), and now it's all shriveled and nasty looking from time to time.

Meshmez · 12/19/2011, 10:05 PM

nope, my clowns want nothing to do with the BTA. Im starting to see a couple small tentacle bubbles forming... so my fingers are crossed that i can just charge the snail with attempted murder...

Palting · 12/19/2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meshmez

nope, my clowns want nothing to do with the BTA. Im starting to see a couple small tentacle bubbles forming... so my fingers are crossed that i can just charge the snail with attempted murder...

It doesn't matter. You already sentenced the snail to death and executed him on the spot!!

Just trying to bring in some levity

. I'm sure the 'nem will make it.

Khemul · 12/19/2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

It doesn't matter. You already sentenced the snail to death and executed him on the spot!!

Just trying to bring in some levity

. I'm sure the 'nem will make it.

Ah, how smoothly the justice system works when there aren't any silly "trials" and "lawyers" to get in the way.

Meshmez · 12/19/2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

It doesn't matter. You already sentenced the snail to death and executed him on the spot!!

Just trying to bring in some levity

. I'm sure the 'nem will make it.

Im sure it intended to murder, and thats enough for me! We go on the monetary justice system in my house. RBTA > Snail, I stand by my judgement...

Rockys_Pride · 12/19/2011, 10:51 PM

We like updated pics....

csmfish · 12/19/2011, 10:59 PM

Them things rip in two on their own when they split, albeit slowly, but, still....

Meshmez · 12/19/2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockys_Pride

We like updated pics....

Looking much better than it did when i got home from work!

Meshmez · 12/19/2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmfish

Them things rip in two on their own when they split, albeit slowly, but, still....

I know i know, but as you can see in the first pics, i came home to it with its guts out and looking horrible, compared to looking good with no signs of issues yesterday... ok maybe i freaked out a little.. so sue me... i like my RBTA..

Reefing Newbie · 12/19/2011, 11:45 PM

I was impaled by a vermatid snail when I was aquascaping my tank for the first time. It took an hour of careful tweezer manuvers and pin pricks to get the sucker out of my thumb. Your BTA looks like it should make a full recovery, just keep everything the way it has been and you should be fine.

C0rp · 12/19/2011, 11:51 PM

i was a reefer till i took a vermatid snail to the knee...

god, i just had to!

tkeracer619 · 12/19/2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefing Newbie

I was impaled by a vermatid snail when I was aquascaping my tank for the first time. It took an hour of careful tweezer manuvers and pin pricks to get the sucker out of my thumb. Your BTA looks like it should make a full recovery, just keep everything the way it has been and you should be fine.

I was trying to break this dead sps off a rock. It came off and a vermatid snail tube went into my index finger under the nail.

If you haven't experienced this. It is a calcium based tube that breaks at the slightest grab with pliers. It takes a plug of flesh with it.

I took an exacto knife to it and worked it out over about 30 minutes. I almost gave up and went to the emergency room. Holy cow that hurt!!!!

Meshmez · 12/20/2011, 10:44 AM

no pics since the tank was dark this morning when I left, but it looks like the RBTA will make a full recovery! Sorry for my freakout, and thanks for the moral support...

Rockys_Pride · 12/22/2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C0rp

i was a reefer till i took a vermatid snail to the knee...

god, i just had to!

Classic!

Reefmedic79 · 12/22/2011, 10:42 PM

That Turbo snail is getting awfully close!!

phasezero · 12/23/2011, 12:46 AM

My 8-9" RBTA was attached to two different rocks. While i was aquascaping the rocks fell and ripped a large chunk of the anemone off exposing some guts. I thought it was done for but it repaired itself and the ripped off chunk that looked like dead deflated tentacles turned into new anemone. Yours should recover just fine.

12/19/2011, 08:38 PM	#2
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	I've seen worse come back. I would have a large water change at the ready just in case. Are you sure the Vermetid did this? __________________ Next step on the system is adding A 90 gallon! Current Tank Info: 475 multitank system is now running! Several hundred gallons of additions planned!

12/19/2011, 08:38 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	As long as you have good water quality i bet it will make a full recovery. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/19/2011, 08:48 PM	#5
samstersam Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 389	[QUOTE=Meshmez;19647102] I find an impaled part of my RBTA hanging on a vermetid snail... QUOTE] I do not think the vermetid snail was the cause of the RBTA's suffering OR its death (if it should happen) The width of a vermetid snail's tube is about a centimeter (maybe even smaller than). I think a healthy RBTA could recover from that pinhole type damage. I've seen clownfish rip out tentacles from RBTA's (innocently enough he just seemed to be "suckling" the tentacle, but the clownfish actually ripped off perhaps due to artificial environment? stress? inexperience?). I've seen from friends tanks, RBTA's getting sucked partially into intakes of powerheads too, but i've seen them survive the aftermath...IF the tanks environment is mature, stable and correct. Yes, even with innards spewing out like white curly, gooey threads. Conclusively, impalement by the tube of a vermetid snail should not cause the demise of a previously healthy RBTA if it will stay consistently in a healthy, mature and stable environment. If it does deteriorate, then it was just catalylzied by the impalement, but would have still deteriorated eventually due to improper conditions. So if you have a healthy 6+month old tank with stable conditions, proper chemistry, and keep it as such; then have no fear, it will recover. But if it dies from impalement of a vermetid snail tube, then your tank was never ready for an RBTA to begin with. __________________ My Reef 40 Gallon Breeder. 20 Gallon Frag/NPS tank. Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder Last edited by samstersam; 12/19/2011 at 08:57 PM.

12/19/2011, 11:51 PM	#18
C0rp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 431	i was a reefer till i took a vermatid snail to the knee... god, i just had to! __________________ 75RR, 4" DSB, 29G AE Tech Sump/fuge/ETSS skimmer w Mag9.5, Mag5 Return, RKE w Net, Tunze Osmolator, Tradewind 1/5HP Chiller, 6x54 ATI T5HO, Vortech MP40WES/MP10WES w/Battery Backup, Sarcophyton, Clavularia, Capnella, Briareum, Lobophytum, Nepthea, Sinularia Flexibilis, Ricordia, Discosoma, Rhodactis, Zoanthus, Caulastrea, Blastomussa Wellsi, Isaurus Tuberculatus, Seriatopora Hystrix, Plerogyra Sinuosa, Euphyllia Paradivisia, Tubipora Musica, Ecsenius Midas, Paracheilinus Carpenteri Current Tank Info: pH 8.0-8.2, Temp 78-80, Salinity 1.026, Alk 9dKH, Ca 400, Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Last edited by C0rp; 12/20/2011 at 12:02 AM.

12/22/2011, 10:42 PM	#22
Reefmedic79 Life and Reef Saver Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tavares, Florida Posts: 6,202	That Turbo snail is getting awfully close!! __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> How much deeper would the ocean be if it didn't have sponges? P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sid Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 20L Sump, 10G Fuge, JBJ A.T.O, 4" Reef Octopus, DIY Stand & Canopy, RapidLED Dimmable 36 Kit on 3 6" MakersLED Heatsink, MP10es

12/19/2011, 08:51 PM	#6
Robb in Austin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgetown, Tx Posts: 1,016	+1 to this ^

12/19/2011, 08:54 PM	#7
Meshmez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,030	Well my tank has been up for over a year, and the nem has been apparently healthy and not moving around for 5-6 months, so im going to hope that everyones thoughts are correct, and it will recover!

12/19/2011, 09:15 PM	#8
Robb in Austin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgetown, Tx Posts: 1,016	Any breeding clowns hosting it? My bta looked great until my clowns decided to get busy recently(I've had the clowns for 3+ years and they just now started), and now it's all shriveled and nasty looking from time to time.

12/19/2011, 10:05 PM	#9
Meshmez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,030	nope, my clowns want nothing to do with the BTA. Im starting to see a couple small tentacle bubbles forming... so my fingers are crossed that i can just charge the snail with attempted murder...

12/19/2011, 10:51 PM	#13
Rockys_Pride Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: colorado Posts: 490	We like updated pics....

12/19/2011, 10:59 PM	#14
csmfish Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: VA Posts: 1,055	Them things rip in two on their own when they split, albeit slowly, but, still....

12/19/2011, 11:45 PM	#17
Reefing Newbie Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,435	I was impaled by a vermatid snail when I was aquascaping my tank for the first time. It took an hour of careful tweezer manuvers and pin pricks to get the sucker out of my thumb. Your BTA looks like it should make a full recovery, just keep everything the way it has been and you should be fine.

12/20/2011, 10:44 AM	#20
Meshmez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,030	no pics since the tank was dark this morning when I left, but it looks like the RBTA will make a full recovery! Sorry for my freakout, and thanks for the moral support...

12/23/2011, 12:46 AM	#23
phasezero Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 239	My 8-9" RBTA was attached to two different rocks. While i was aquascaping the rocks fell and ripped a large chunk of the anemone off exposing some guts. I thought it was done for but it repaired itself and the ripped off chunk that looked like dead deflated tentacles turned into new anemone. Yours should recover just fine.

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