Vermetid Worm Outbreak (Tube Worms) - How do I get rid of them? Why do they only see

that Fish Guy · 11/16/2013, 12:18 PM

I have always had a Few Vermetid Worms (The Tube Worms) but they never seemed to bother anything.

But now I have an Outbreak and a Ton of them are popping up all of a sudden.

Why?

They seemed to Favor my Montipora Danae (Superman, Poker Star, Sunset, etc.).

But now I am even seeing them in my Montipora Caps.

I have a Big Monti Cap and noticed three new ones today.

Why do they like Montipora and not attach to other Corals?

I had Frags with one before but now I have Frags with 6 of them!

They are burrowing in the Corals and surely will kill them.

So the Big Question - How do I get rid of these Pests?

reeferstace · 11/16/2013, 01:23 PM

Vermetids are snails, not worms. Do you have tube worm or snails?

BossHoggin · 11/16/2013, 03:45 PM

I understand the resemblance to feather dusters you are referring to. A snail that stays stationary in a tube and filter feeds is not like most snails.

I glued the tubes shut when I could not break off a chunk of rock around it. Lowering nutrients did the rest to get rid of most of them.

that Fish Guy · 11/16/2013, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeferstace

Vermetids are snails, not worms. Do you have tube worm or snails?

What is the Difference I thought they were the same thing.

Do the Vermetid Snails move around like regular snails?

Or are they in Tubes.

Does anybody have a picture to show the differences between the two?

that Fish Guy · 11/16/2013, 09:14 PM

Will a Dip in Revive by Two Little Fishies Help kill them or are they Immune to that?

Lateralus · 11/16/2013, 09:43 PM

Vermetid snails live in those tubes. When they sense food they will send out slime nets to catch particles. Once they catch something they reel the slime back in. It's pretty cool watching them go fishing but unfortunately can irritate surrounding corals.

that Fish Guy · 11/16/2013, 11:22 PM

Someone told me to Super Glue the Tubes shut but

Couldn't they just Burrow out the Back and form a New Tube and then it stars all over again?

vls4330 · 11/16/2013, 11:44 PM

super glue or epoxy ..i hate those thing....

that Fish Guy · 11/17/2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vls4330

super glue or epoxy ..i hate those thing....

If I Super Glued the Hard Tube couldn't they just Burrow out the Back and form a New Tube and then it stars all over again?

Ted_C · 11/17/2013, 09:43 AM

Here's one from my tank:

Here you can see the tort has actually encrusted around the tube.

Here's another shot with 200+ baby vermetid:

To the naked eye (at least with my 43 year old eyes - I thought this was CaCO3 precipitate. On Macro shots though - you can see the spiral tube starting to be built.

This thread details and outlines the opinions and research I put into figuring out how to solve my problem:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2324189

to summarize:

The biological solutions for vermetid control are not effective. This thread summed it up nicely:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1592091

Quote:

random experiences of reefers observing these animals eating vermetids (only one reefer instance each)

zebra-legged hermit crab
narissus snail (sp?)
copperband butterfly

***only one reefer experience found success with each of these three animals **

other suggestions:
6-line wrasse
lunare wrasse
other hermit crabs (blue leg, scarlet, etc)
** vast majority of reports said these are not successful in eliminating vermetids **

To this point - I have lost the majority of my SPS (out of 40frags - I only have about 4 specimens left). I no longer attribute this loss to vermetid (some of them might have been).

I am currently re-incarnating my rock to try and slow them down.

GroktheCube · 11/17/2013, 11:03 AM

Toby puffers will eat them, FWIW. My girlfriend's C. valentini loved them. Toby puffers are USUALLY fairly "reef safe" in that they won't harass corals, and have small enough mouths that they generally don't go for decent sized hermits or shrimp.

vls4330 · 11/17/2013, 11:18 PM

the epoxy worked the best for me (not as messy)
they did not burrow through ...for me
im not sure if they are capable

Boston21 · 11/17/2013, 11:26 PM

I got rid of alot of mine with super glue and or breaking them off with a piece of PVC.

that Fish Guy · 12/29/2013, 08:38 AM

I have always had a few with no problems but now they are popping up in all my Montipora and to Plague Levels.

After having them for years with no real problem why am I getting so many all of a sudden.

I probably have 75 of them on my Filter Tube Alone now.

RoachF4 · 12/29/2013, 11:02 AM

They seem to come in waves...at least in my experience. I had a 90 gallon about 10 years ago that became completely infested during it's second year. I tried many of the suggested solutions, but they seemed unstoppable. I don't remember losing any corals to them (just getting my hands/arms poked a lot when I grabbed a rock), mostly irritation. At some point they just seemed to go away on their own.
My current tank (180) has been up for over two years now. I used Marco rock just to avoid such pests, but somewhere down the line I got them again! They weren't as bad as the first tank, so I just let them do there thing. I cut off the one's that were too close to sensitive corals. Sometime ago they started receding on their own again. It's almost like a stage your tank has to go through (if you get them in the first place) and it has to run it's course.
Sorry...I realize that this was probably no help to you

FlyPenFly · 12/29/2013, 11:08 AM

Supposedly bumblebee snails are their only natural predator. I've had three CBBs and none go for these.

mussel and hate · 12/29/2013, 12:36 PM

Over the past year I've experienced a population explosion of vermetid snails which seemed to correlate with feedings of frozen cyclopeeze.. I probably had a few all along or perhaps imported some on a frag. That said i haven't observed any negative effects aside from their dubious aesthetic value.

These little snails in conjunction with corraline algae probably do more to build reef structure in my tank than anything else. The vermetids extend their tubes which be come encrusted in corraline, it's a perpetual growth battle.

My desktop pico houses amongst other things a red montipora cap. There is a solitary vermatid snail on a portion of the monti skeleton that was bare when I purchased the colony. Since then the montipora has fully encrusted the tube to the point where only the nozzle is exposed. I think this fast growing montipora may entomb the snail soon.

I don't know if there is any practical means of eliminating vermetid snails beyond quarantine and manual removal on a rock by rock basis but I don't see the point in light of their benign nature.

Potsy · 12/29/2013, 01:08 PM

Mine disappeared on their own, and I had hundreds covering every rocky surface. The only thing they seemed to irritate were zoanthids.

JB63 · 12/29/2013, 03:51 PM

I have one come through a 'fragile' goniopora ... and it's been growing. Seems like some epoxy is in order. Darn buggers!

Lateralus · 12/29/2013, 04:10 PM

I have a bunch and just look at them as part of my reefs deversity. They don't seem to harm anything. It's pretty cool watching them fish for food.

sneeyatch · 12/29/2013, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I have a bunch and just look at them as part of my reefs deversity. They don't seem to harm anything. It's pretty cool watching them fish for food.

Agreed diversity is where it's at in a reef tank. I leave them to do their thing.

Jyetman · 12/29/2013, 10:41 PM

I had an outbreak a year or so ago and their numbers slowly decreased not sure why haven't seen but only a few here and there. Maybe my monster zebra hermits had something to do with it. They seem to activate when things get all stirred up so keep the water clean.

that Fish Guy · 12/30/2013, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyPenFly

Supposedly bumblebee snails are their only natural predator. I've had three CBBs and none go for these.

What are Bumblebee Snails?

I have never heard of them.

Will they eat Coral too?

Do LFS carry them?

JB63 · 12/30/2013, 11:01 AM

The BumbleBee snails are the size of nassarius, and the shell has alternated yellow/black bands.

FlyPenFly · 12/30/2013, 11:28 AM

The bumble bee snail thing is not really verified. Who knows.

I am curious about the puffer idea. It would be interesting to setup a tank with a valentini puffer and only have a piece of live rock in there with vermetid snails, don't feed and see if he goes after them.

I have a Yellow corriss wrasse and a yellow tailed tamarin, none are interested in the vermetid.

A less reef safe wrasse might be better like maybe a dragon wrasse or something else very aggressive.

11/16/2013, 12:18 PM	#1
that Fish Guy Frag Swap Crusader! Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,538	Vermetid Worm Outbreak (Tube Worms) - How do I get rid of them? Why do they only see I have always had a Few Vermetid Worms (The Tube Worms) but they never seemed to bother anything. But now I have an Outbreak and a Ton of them are popping up all of a sudden. Why? They seemed to Favor my Montipora Danae (Superman, Poker Star, Sunset, etc.). But now I am even seeing them in my Montipora Caps. I have a Big Monti Cap and noticed three new ones today. Why do they like Montipora and not attach to other Corals? I had Frags with one before but now I have Frags with 6 of them! They are burrowing in the Corals and surely will kill them. So the Big Question - How do I get rid of these Pests? __________________ For a Complete List of all the Frag Swaps in 2018 Click the Link Below. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2655153 You do not want to miss any! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon, 45 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 20 Gallon, 20 Gallon #2, 10 Gallon

11/16/2013, 01:23 PM	#2
reeferstace I'm a little people Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Over Yonder Posts: 1,392	Vermetids are snails, not worms. Do you have tube worm or snails? __________________ Stacy

11/16/2013, 03:45 PM	#3
BossHoggin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Compton, CA Posts: 198	I understand the resemblance to feather dusters you are referring to. A snail that stays stationary in a tube and filter feeds is not like most snails. I glued the tubes shut when I could not break off a chunk of rock around it. Lowering nutrients did the rest to get rid of most of them. __________________ Josh 60B mixed reef w/ 33G sump/refugium 125G FOWLR w/ Eshopps R_300

11/16/2013, 09:14 PM	#5
that Fish Guy Frag Swap Crusader! Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,538	Will a Dip in Revive by Two Little Fishies Help kill them or are they Immune to that? __________________ For a Complete List of all the Frag Swaps in 2018 Click the Link Below. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2655153 You do not want to miss any! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon, 45 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 20 Gallon, 20 Gallon #2, 10 Gallon

11/16/2013, 09:43 PM	#6
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	Vermetid snails live in those tubes. When they sense food they will send out slime nets to catch particles. Once they catch something they reel the slime back in. It's pretty cool watching them go fishing but unfortunately can irritate surrounding corals. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

11/16/2013, 11:22 PM	#7
that Fish Guy Frag Swap Crusader! Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,538	Someone told me to Super Glue the Tubes shut but Couldn't they just Burrow out the Back and form a New Tube and then it stars all over again? __________________ For a Complete List of all the Frag Swaps in 2018 Click the Link Below. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2655153 You do not want to miss any! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon, 45 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 20 Gallon, 20 Gallon #2, 10 Gallon

11/16/2013, 11:44 PM	#8
vls4330 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 56	super glue or epoxy ..i hate those thing....

11/17/2013, 11:03 AM	#11
GroktheCube Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2,063	Toby puffers will eat them, FWIW. My girlfriend's C. valentini loved them. Toby puffers are USUALLY fairly "reef safe" in that they won't harass corals, and have small enough mouths that they generally don't go for decent sized hermits or shrimp.

11/17/2013, 11:18 PM	#12
vls4330 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 56	the epoxy worked the best for me (not as messy) they did not burrow through ...for me im not sure if they are capable

11/17/2013, 11:26 PM	#13
Boston21 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 452	I got rid of alot of mine with super glue and or breaking them off with a piece of PVC.

12/29/2013, 08:38 AM	#14
that Fish Guy Frag Swap Crusader! Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,538	I have always had a few with no problems but now they are popping up in all my Montipora and to Plague Levels. After having them for years with no real problem why am I getting so many all of a sudden. I probably have 75 of them on my Filter Tube Alone now. __________________ For a Complete List of all the Frag Swaps in 2018 Click the Link Below. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2655153 You do not want to miss any! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon, 45 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 20 Gallon, 20 Gallon #2, 10 Gallon

12/29/2013, 11:02 AM	#15
RoachF4 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Ding, CA Posts: 107	They seem to come in waves...at least in my experience. I had a 90 gallon about 10 years ago that became completely infested during it's second year. I tried many of the suggested solutions, but they seemed unstoppable. I don't remember losing any corals to them (just getting my hands/arms poked a lot when I grabbed a rock), mostly irritation. At some point they just seemed to go away on their own. My current tank (180) has been up for over two years now. I used Marco rock just to avoid such pests, but somewhere down the line I got them again! They weren't as bad as the first tank, so I just let them do there thing. I cut off the one's that were too close to sensitive corals. Sometime ago they started receding on their own again. It's almost like a stage your tank has to go through (if you get them in the first place) and it has to run it's course. Sorry...I realize that this was probably no help to you

12/29/2013, 11:08 AM	#16
FlyPenFly SPS Killer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,490	Supposedly bumblebee snails are their only natural predator. I've had three CBBs and none go for these.

12/29/2013, 12:36 PM	#17
mussel and hate Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: location location Posts: 701	Over the past year I've experienced a population explosion of vermetid snails which seemed to correlate with feedings of frozen cyclopeeze.. I probably had a few all along or perhaps imported some on a frag. That said i haven't observed any negative effects aside from their dubious aesthetic value. These little snails in conjunction with corraline algae probably do more to build reef structure in my tank than anything else. The vermetids extend their tubes which be come encrusted in corraline, it's a perpetual growth battle. My desktop pico houses amongst other things a red montipora cap. There is a solitary vermatid snail on a portion of the monti skeleton that was bare when I purchased the colony. Since then the montipora has fully encrusted the tube to the point where only the nozzle is exposed. I think this fast growing montipora may entomb the snail soon. I don't know if there is any practical means of eliminating vermetid snails beyond quarantine and manual removal on a rock by rock basis but I don't see the point in light of their benign nature.

12/29/2013, 01:08 PM	#18
Potsy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kinnelon, NJ Posts: 1,827	Mine disappeared on their own, and I had hundreds covering every rocky surface. The only thing they seemed to irritate were zoanthids.

12/29/2013, 03:51 PM	#19
JB63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 401	I have one come through a 'fragile' goniopora ... and it's been growing. Seems like some epoxy is in order. Darn buggers!

12/29/2013, 04:10 PM	#20
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	I have a bunch and just look at them as part of my reefs deversity. They don't seem to harm anything. It's pretty cool watching them fish for food. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

12/29/2013, 10:41 PM	#22
Jyetman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,712	I had an outbreak a year or so ago and their numbers slowly decreased not sure why haven't seen but only a few here and there. Maybe my monster zebra hermits had something to do with it. They seem to activate when things get all stirred up so keep the water clean.

12/30/2013, 11:01 AM	#24
JB63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 401	The BumbleBee snails are the size of nassarius, and the shell has alternated yellow/black bands.

12/30/2013, 11:28 AM	#25
FlyPenFly SPS Killer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,490	The bumble bee snail thing is not really verified. Who knows. I am curious about the puffer idea. It would be interesting to setup a tank with a valentini puffer and only have a piece of live rock in there with vermetid snails, don't feed and see if he goes after them. I have a Yellow corriss wrasse and a yellow tailed tamarin, none are interested in the vermetid. A less reef safe wrasse might be better like maybe a dragon wrasse or something else very aggressive.