Please Id these pests

tootsiedaisy · 05/15/2007, 04:31 PM

Can anyone help, They squirt stuff in looong and thick strands Please help http://home.wi.rr.com/vbecker/reef.jpg

Silverfin · 05/15/2007, 04:39 PM

They aren't particularly bad. We have some and they are....*goes over to get book*......they are Vermetid Gastropods , Patalocochus spp., or Small Worm Snails. they aren't bad for the reef, so the book says. We have small ones too in our tank and they release webs or mucus that capture organic and microscopic materials or nutrients in the water.....they are hitchhikers that may come with live rock.

tootsiedaisy · 05/15/2007, 04:45 PM

Im glad to hear there okay but Ive got way too many, Anyone know of something that eats them

JokerGirl · 05/15/2007, 04:45 PM

Vermetid snails. They can become a pest just because of the mucous they secrete but are otherwise harmless

Silverfin · 05/15/2007, 04:49 PM

They have a hard shell to protact them. I don't know about this, but an urchin might eat the worms (along with the algea and coral-line algea)

I could look into it and see what eats the worms and is safe for the reef tank.....

tootsiedaisy · 05/15/2007, 05:01 PM

Ive got these things everywhere I really dont know what to do

JokerGirl · 05/15/2007, 05:03 PM

The most you can do is break them off in an attempt to kill any you see. I'm not sure if anything eats them.

cowboyswife · 05/15/2007, 05:31 PM

Nice zoas

Paintbug · 05/15/2007, 06:15 PM

copperband butterfly fish sometimes will eat them, but the best way of control is to smash them off rocks. the reason they have a huge population is theres plenty of food for them. its usually a sign of over feeding the tank. but i have learned to live with them

.

Hop · 05/15/2007, 06:28 PM

They are the devil's plague! It is one of the reasons that I tore my 450 down. They were killing my corals and due to the system size, I was unable to control them manually.

Since moving things into a 125, I have found that a couple zebra legged hermits are keeping them in check.

And those tubes are sharp, be careful handling them. I got quite a few pokes and cuts from them when I tore the tank down.

AquaReeferMan · 05/15/2007, 06:28 PM

Yeah I have them everywhere as well. I havent noticed any problems yet. I do break a lot off though.

05/15/2007, 04:31 PM	#1
tootsiedaisy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 194	Please Id these pests Can anyone help, They squirt stuff in looong and thick strands Please help http://home.wi.rr.com/vbecker/reef.jpg

05/15/2007, 04:39 PM	#2
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	They aren't particularly bad. We have some and they are....goes over to get book......they are Vermetid Gastropods , Patalocochus spp., or Small Worm Snails. they aren't bad for the reef, so the book says. We have small ones too in our tank and they release webs or mucus that capture organic and microscopic materials or nutrients in the water.....they are hitchhikers that may come with live rock. __________________ Arrested Person:"I swear to drunk i am not God." Current Tank Info: Family 210gal reef, 30gal frag,

05/15/2007, 04:45 PM	#4
JokerGirl Whistler's Mother Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: That place Posts: 1,345	Vermetid snails. They can become a pest just because of the mucous they secrete but are otherwise harmless __________________ 01000001 01101110 01111001 01101111 01101110 01100101 00111111 Current Tank Info: 120g Reef Tank, 60g Cube Mantis/Reef Tank, Want more info, ask me.

05/15/2007, 04:49 PM	#5
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	They have a hard shell to protact them. I don't know about this, but an urchin might eat the worms (along with the algea and coral-line algea) I could look into it and see what eats the worms and is safe for the reef tank..... __________________ Arrested Person:"I swear to drunk i am not God." Current Tank Info: Family 210gal reef, 30gal frag,

05/15/2007, 05:03 PM	#7
JokerGirl Whistler's Mother Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: That place Posts: 1,345	The most you can do is break them off in an attempt to kill any you see. I'm not sure if anything eats them. __________________ 01000001 01101110 01111001 01101111 01101110 01100101 00111111 Current Tank Info: 120g Reef Tank, 60g Cube Mantis/Reef Tank, Want more info, ask me.

05/15/2007, 05:01 PM	#6
tootsiedaisy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 194	Ive got these things everywhere I really dont know what to do

05/15/2007, 05:31 PM	#8
cowboyswife Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 2,187	Nice zoas __________________ "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." - Kate Chopin ~Becca Current Tank Info: Out of the hobby for the time being. But Im sticking around anyway!

05/15/2007, 06:15 PM	#9
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	copperband butterfly fish sometimes will eat them, but the best way of control is to smash them off rocks. the reason they have a huge population is theres plenty of food for them. its usually a sign of over feeding the tank. but i have learned to live with them . __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

05/15/2007, 06:28 PM	#10
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	They are the devil's plague! It is one of the reasons that I tore my 450 down. They were killing my corals and due to the system size, I was unable to control them manually. Since moving things into a 125, I have found that a couple zebra legged hermits are keeping them in check. And those tubes are sharp, be careful handling them. I got quite a few pokes and cuts from them when I tore the tank down. __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

05/15/2007, 06:28 PM	#11
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Yeah I have them everywhere as well. I havent noticed any problems yet. I do break a lot off though. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together