Does anyone know what this thing is?

[ReefRian]

I've had my live rock for about a week. With the rock came a black & orange legged hermit crab and a snail (not sure what kind, but it has s spiral type shell, and the base of the shell is about the size of a dime). The other day I noticed a weblike thing on the live rock. It was in a small area near the snail, so I thought it might be from him. Well today at lunch I was checking out the tank and these web things are all over the front of one of the live rock pieces. It doesn't seem to be connecting to any other rock and this time the snail on the back side of the rock, where he has been since yesterday, and I don't think the hermit crab has been on the rock at all.

The web looks kinda like a mucus, it is very think, clear, and wide (about an inch in some places) not just stringy. There are tiny bubbles stuck to one area so it is lifting off the rock. The last time I saw this I think it went away on its own. This might do so again, but I just want to make sure that it isn't something bad with the rock or the finishing curing of the tank.

Rian

 

[aquarist=broke]

Do they look like these spider webs?
Hitchhiker's faq here at reefs.org. Page three of on rock and substrate.

 

[chester]

Looks like the membrain soft corals slough,this is a natural way of cleaning themself and normal,just clean it off with a turkey baster let the filter take care of it,if youve no softies I've no idea!

 

[Joe DeSantis]

That is coming from the worms which can be seen in the picture attached to the clam shell. Can't remember the exact name of the worm but you can find it easily on the hitchiker page! :idea:

 

[Anonymous]

Are you thonking of vermetid?

 

[Joe DeSantis]

Yes vermetid...Im sorry I thought the picture from hitchiker faq was reefryans picture......

Here is a picture of one in my tank.

 

[ReefRian]

yes, I believe that is what it looks like. I also don't have any corals or anything in my tank yet, except what came on my LR.

I also haven't seen anything like this worm on my rock, unless it is really small and the entire tube in below the surface of the rock.

Rian

 

[Xphixer2]

They are actually snails see this URL http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/invert_page/vermetid.htm
and http://www.aquarium.net/0897/0897_8.shtml

I had several of them on my live rock, they "evolved" over time. They are mostly harmless. Of course I tore down my tank last week so I shouldn't be held accoutable for anything that I write now... :twisted: Rich

 

[Anonymous]

Vermetids are not worms they are snails. And yes those photos are vermetid snails. They are a sign of good water quality. They also help remove floating particles with it's net of mucous.