What's this slime stuff??

soulbereaver · 09/29/2008, 08:55 PM

Ok, so I've walked over to my tank and turned the lights on a few times now, and all over one or two of my rocks there's this stuff that literally looks like spiderwebs or cobwebs. It seems sticky just like webs too the way it sticks to the rocks.

I'm very curious to what this stuff can be, and where it comes from.

I've done some research on this and I'm thinking maybe it's the snails mating or something, but the weird thing is never have I turned on the lights to find snails anywhere around the stuff.

Once I lost a Chromie and by the time I noticed, it was pretty chewed up but it, and the rock, was totally covered in this web looking stuff. So I'm thinking maybe some creature secretes this stuff to protect itself or it's food? Do any crabs or shrimp or worms or anything do this maybe?

Let me know if you guys have ever heard of something like this.

Thanks.

HappySkittles · 09/29/2008, 08:59 PM

there are amphipods that do that i think
make "webs"

SaltyDr · 09/29/2008, 09:04 PM

Generally harmless. They are vermetid snails. Their population can get out of hand and the webs clog things. They throw out these webs that are sticky then reel them in and eat what is on them. They are a sessile snail. Their numbers will fluctuate over time and die out when things settle down and you get nutrients under control. That's what happened to me.

85galsalty · 09/29/2008, 10:30 PM

I don't think its from snails because I have the same webs and I don't have any snails in my tank. I don't have any clue what they are either but I see my Koran Angle fish always eating it.

jdieck · 09/29/2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 85galsalty
I don't think its from snails because I have the same webs and I don't have any snails in my tank. I don't have any clue what they are either but I see my Koran Angle fish always eating it.

Vermetid snails do not look at all like snails, usually they come in the rock. They build hard tubes (likefeather dusters but hard) and the snail never moves, they use the sticky strings to trap floating particles of food then retract them into their mouths.

85galsalty · 09/29/2008, 10:38 PM

monkeys are smart

soulbereaver · 09/30/2008, 06:48 AM

that would explain it. I have those tube things all over one of my bigger rocks.

They seem kinda pesty to me, is there any way to easily get rid of them? All my water parameters check out well... zero nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and hardly any algae at all. Don't know the phosphate level tho, but it shouldn't be high.

jdieck · 09/30/2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by soulbereaver
that would explain it. I have those tube things all over one of my bigger rocks.

They seem kinda pesty to me, is there any way to easily get rid of them? All my water parameters check out well... zero nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and hardly any algae at all. Don't know the phosphate level tho, but it shouldn't be high.

They are harmless other that the aesthetics and help clean up the water column but if you decide to get rid of them just use some wire cutters to break the tubes at the base or plug the tube with some Kalk paste or epoxi putty.

09/29/2008, 08:55 PM	#1
soulbereaver Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dekalb, IL Posts: 131	What's this slime stuff?? Ok, so I've walked over to my tank and turned the lights on a few times now, and all over one or two of my rocks there's this stuff that literally looks like spiderwebs or cobwebs. It seems sticky just like webs too the way it sticks to the rocks. I'm very curious to what this stuff can be, and where it comes from. I've done some research on this and I'm thinking maybe it's the snails mating or something, but the weird thing is never have I turned on the lights to find snails anywhere around the stuff. Once I lost a Chromie and by the time I noticed, it was pretty chewed up but it, and the rock, was totally covered in this web looking stuff. So I'm thinking maybe some creature secretes this stuff to protect itself or it's food? Do any crabs or shrimp or worms or anything do this maybe? Let me know if you guys have ever heard of something like this. Thanks.

09/29/2008, 08:59 PM	#2
HappySkittles Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 401	there are amphipods that do that i think make "webs" __________________ RESEARCH! <º)))>< Very important Sexy Blog? Click the red house! Current Tank Info: 3 gallon pico-zoas, gorgonian, mushrooms, nass snails and sexy shrimp

09/29/2008, 10:30 PM	#4
85galsalty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 140	I don't think its from snails because I have the same webs and I don't have any snails in my tank. I don't have any clue what they are either but I see my Koran Angle fish always eating it. __________________ "Just add water" Current Tank Info: 100gal mixed reef w/sump & 75 gal mixed reef w/ sump. Foxface Rabbit, Royal Gramma, False Percula Clown, Kole Tang, Regal Tang, Yellow Tang. Various Inverts.

09/29/2008, 10:38 PM	#6
85galsalty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 140	monkeys are smart __________________ "Just add water" Current Tank Info: 100gal mixed reef w/sump & 75 gal mixed reef w/ sump. Foxface Rabbit, Royal Gramma, False Percula Clown, Kole Tang, Regal Tang, Yellow Tang. Various Inverts.

09/29/2008, 09:04 PM	#3
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	Generally harmless. They are vermetid snails. Their population can get out of hand and the webs clog things. They throw out these webs that are sticky then reel them in and eat what is on them. They are a sessile snail. Their numbers will fluctuate over time and die out when things settle down and you get nutrients under control. That's what happened to me.

09/30/2008, 06:48 AM	#7
soulbereaver Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dekalb, IL Posts: 131	that would explain it. I have those tube things all over one of my bigger rocks. They seem kinda pesty to me, is there any way to easily get rid of them? All my water parameters check out well... zero nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and hardly any algae at all. Don't know the phosphate level tho, but it shouldn't be high.