Can you ID these strange growths?

[CIGDAZE]

Please see the image. Recently, I have these strange little tube-like growths appearing on my live rock and they're multiplying at an alarming rate. They're orange in color, and are very hard (calcium based I believe). If my senses aren't failing me, I'd swear that there's some kind of worm in there that quickly retracts if I poke at it. They also emit this long stringy thing, almost like a fine silk strand or like a spider web string. This string tends to wrap around and irritate my corals that are nearby. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Frogmanx82]

Tube worms

[iwishtofish]

Yeah, definitely look like tube worms. They also resemble vermetid snails, which, unlike tube worms, would not be flexible.

[CIGDAZE]

Thanks!

Other than a nuisance, are they a threat?

Is there a surefire way to kill them?

I've been simply breaking them off, will they regrow?

[JonnyD91]

vermetid snails

do they have some web like structure coming out of them floating in the water.

I hate these things, i have lost many a coral due to their webs.

[CIGDAZE]

Originally posted by JonnyD91
vermetid snails

do they have some web like structure coming out of them floating in the water.

I hate these things, i have lost many a coral due to their webs.

Yes, as a matter of fact they do emit this stringy sort of web. They're really getting aggravating, and they multiply like crazy.

How do I kill them? Is breaking off the hard tube enough?

[JonnyD91]

Originally posted by CIGDAZE
Yes, as a matter of fact they do emit this stringy sort of web. They're really getting aggravating, and they multiply like crazy.

How do I kill them? Is breaking off the hard tube enough?

Use some kind of stainless steel pliers that can go in the water. Maybe a fragging plier. Crack em off like a nut. Again i hate those things. Good Luck.

P.S. You need to break them off at the base.

[fishnut321]

definently get them out now before they start reproducing!!! they make a pristine tank look horrible anytime something gets stirred up or during feeding times. The nets will iritate you probably more than the coral but they do close up polyps.

I noticed that prazipro used for flukes wiped most of mine, a few larger ones survived it though.

[rdlisby]

I always wondered what those things were, will Prazipro hurt my SPS or LPS corals?

Anybody else use Prazipro?

[DevilBoy]

they vermetid snails for sure. I get rid of mine by super gluing the opening of the tube

[TheEdge]

Do you superglue in or out of water? I assume out, if so how long do you keep the corals out of water to let the glue dry? I'm dealing with these same critters, when I break their tube they somehow escape into a hole in the rock and just rebuild their tube so superglue might be a better option.

[bues0022]

you'll never get rid of them manually if they are already in your tank. I've had them in my tank for years and they never get to a pest population. Maybe my wrasse takes care of them?? In any case. There will be hundreds more you can't reach for every one you can. I'd just take it as it comes and don't worry about the little things.

[CIGDAZE]

Thanks everyone!

[iwishtofish]

Originally posted by TheEdge
Do you superglue in or out of water? I assume out, if so how long do you keep the corals out of water to let the glue dry?

\

Superglue will "dry" or cure underwater pretty quickly, from my experience. It just might be harder to apply with precision underwater, and could be a problem if a fish or other critter tried to sample it before it did cure. I think most people use the gel as it isn't as runny.

[Fig70g]

I get these (annoying) guys from time to time as well, breaking them off works but sometimes they come back if not completely removed. The super glue works for me if I can get the rock out, otherwise I push a wad of epoxy over the tube. Youll have a bright white patch, but the epoxy will soon color up with coraline.

[ludnix]

I have a few in my 120. They haven't bothered any corals and don't reproduce enough for me to bother doing anything to get rid of them.

[Aquafred]

+1 on vermetid snails especially if they emit a web like thing mostly when you feed your tank or disturb the sand bed.
You can remove hem but you should do it from the base or they'll regrow. watch out while removing them and do it with a tool not by hand as they can cut in skin easily

[kevantheman35]

they are amazing to watch idk why you would kill them, they're not gonna hurt any coral

[Frogmanx82]

Emerald crabs like to yank them off rocks.

[InsaneClownFish]

Vermetid snails indeed. They're actually quite fascinating to watch- especially some of the larger variety. I really don't understand why people get so up in arms about these. From what I've seen, they're harmless filter feeders.

While you'll see many reports of them irritating corals- I'll believe it when I see it

[supervdl]

+1 vermetid snails and do they have some web like structure coming out of them floating in the water.

I have many in my tank and it is one of those little things people visiting me actually find fascinating. Don't think they hurt or irritate corals.

[greenbean36191]

While you'll see many reports of them irritating corals- I'll believe it when I see it

http://eco.confex.com/eco/2007/techprogram/P7313.HTM

[JonnyD91]

Originally posted by InsaneClownFish
Vermetid snails indeed. They're actually quite fascinating to watch- especially some of the larger variety. I really don't understand why people get so up in arms about these. From what I've seen, they're harmless filter feeders.

While you'll see many reports of them irritating corals- I'll believe it when I see it

I can show you the pictures of my 10" torch and 6" frogspawn they killed

[supervdl]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

[InsaneClownFish]

Interesting greenbean. I think I should have qualified that by saying I've never had an exceptional density of vermetids in any of my reefs. Also, my 8 foot reef currently has an open rock structure, so if I ever did have them reproduce quickly they would be easily isolated.

I can see how having an outbreak might choke off sps colonies to the extent it did in that study.

I'm really not trying to give anyone the wrong impression, but I can only report from personal experience. I had quite a few vermetids in my old 40 Breeder that would put out their webs very close, if not on a variety of LPS with seeming no ill effect.

Of course, my current reef is softie dominated, so I don't worry too much.

This quote from the above Reefkeeping article mirrors my personal experience:

Similarly well-adapted for reef aquarium life, the smaller species are sometimes prolific to the point of being nuisances. However, in most tanks, they simply remain an example of a small, but highly successful, component of reef biodiversity.