Vermetid snails... here we go...

danromero87 · 01/26/2019, 08:25 PM

So to be completely honest I was oblivious to the severity of this pest. I knew I had "something" and didn't mind it in the beginning because they did a hell of a job cleaning the sand. The tank has been up and running for over a year and being that its next to my bed holds my personal prized corals. Nothing crazy fancy, just ones that I personally like the most out of my two tanks. After realizing the infestation, I did some research and found out that they are vermetid snail. Well... like I'm sure you all know they are a pain to get rid of. I am weighing my options right now. I know people have used super glue, bubble bee snails, and or manual labor. I have even read on a forum to try and use coral snow... For me the best course of action seems to be to tear down the tank and scrub the rocks with a hydrochloric acid solution. I just wanted to see what people have done to eradicate this pest..

dabob79 · 01/26/2019, 09:29 PM

I used a Yellow Corris Wrasse and manual labor. I used a butter knife and crushed all that I could and the wrasse took care of the rest.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ReefsandGeeks · 01/28/2019, 09:27 AM

I haven't heard of many others doing it, but when I added a couple of urchins to my tank, they chewed away at the tubes and either ate or destroyed all accessible vermentide snails in my tank in a matter of days. I was astonished. They cleared off my rocks completely of snails, as well as other algae. Took a while for the ones in tight spaces to die off ,but I've been vermentide snail free for a good 2 years now with almost no manual effort on my part. My rocks all used to look like urchins they had so many on them, and I'd have to break a bunch off any time I grabbed a rock just so I could get a hold of the rocks.

Before that I tried manual removal, but they always came back. I didn't add the urchins to attack the snails, but was presently surprised when I looked at the tank and they were disappearing. I've kept those couple of urchins since and the snails have never returned.

steallife904 · 01/28/2019, 12:11 PM

what type of Urchins? I have 1 tuxedo urchin. Wondering if he has eaten any?

ReefsandGeeks · 01/29/2019, 11:09 AM

Just a normal pincushin urchin. I have a purple one, maybe 2.5-3" and a white one around 2". I know the purple one ate them. Not sure if the white one does also, as the purple had them all gone before I got the white.

biecacka · 01/29/2019, 11:21 AM

I could see the urchin eating hem if they are in his path.

not sure if he would hunt hem down for a food source but I could definitely see anything in his way getting eaten.

Corey

View Poll Results: eradicate Vermetide snails
Bubble bee snails	2	25.00%
Super glue	1	12.50%
manually	4	50.00%
Tear down	1	12.50%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll

01/26/2019, 09:29 PM	#2
dabob79 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Mascoutah, IL Posts: 464	I used a Yellow Corris Wrasse and manual labor. I used a butter knife and crushed all that I could and the wrasse took care of the rest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Tank is finally wet! USAF Veteran, 12 years Go Cardinals!! Current Tank Info: Marineland 93 gallon rimless cube, Radion LED/T5 Combo, Eshopps sump, Nyos skimmer, Apex controller

01/28/2019, 09:27 AM	#3
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I haven't heard of many others doing it, but when I added a couple of urchins to my tank, they chewed away at the tubes and either ate or destroyed all accessible vermentide snails in my tank in a matter of days. I was astonished. They cleared off my rocks completely of snails, as well as other algae. Took a while for the ones in tight spaces to die off ,but I've been vermentide snail free for a good 2 years now with almost no manual effort on my part. My rocks all used to look like urchins they had so many on them, and I'd have to break a bunch off any time I grabbed a rock just so I could get a hold of the rocks. Before that I tried manual removal, but they always came back. I didn't add the urchins to attack the snails, but was presently surprised when I looked at the tank and they were disappearing. I've kept those couple of urchins since and the snails have never returned.

01/28/2019, 12:11 PM	#4
steallife904 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 944	what type of Urchins? I have 1 tuxedo urchin. Wondering if he has eaten any?

01/29/2019, 11:09 AM	#5
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Just a normal pincushin urchin. I have a purple one, maybe 2.5-3" and a white one around 2". I know the purple one ate them. Not sure if the white one does also, as the purple had them all gone before I got the white.

01/29/2019, 11:21 AM	#6
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	I could see the urchin eating hem if they are in his path. not sure if he would hunt hem down for a food source but I could definitely see anything in his way getting eaten. Corey