Web like stringy stuff ...

[SaltwaterKitty]

Hey all ... I have a fairly new (yet re-established tank from the previous owner) and I noticed that there are stringy spider-web like things that come out of these super small tubes that are attached to the rock. They are SO annoying ... I scoop them out in the morning and they are back at the end of the day ... I've even snapped off the tube like thing they come out of and they still come back.

What the heck is it? I could try to get a pic but i'm not sure how it will come out ...

thank you!
kat

 

[zook]

It's a type of snail that use those web like fly paper to feed from the water column. You can remove the web by killing the snail rather by gluing the opening shut or remove the snail entirely.

 

[Magic Reefer]

Sounds kinda like Aptasia. Take a picture just to make sure, is it these? If sooo you need an aptasia remover, its a small syringe-injection, that'll take care of ur prob.

 

[SevTT]

Hey all ... I have a fairly new (yet re-established tank from the previous owner) and I noticed that there are stringy spider-web like things that come out of these super small tubes that are attached to the rock. They are SO annoying ... I scoop them out in the morning and they are back at the end of the day ... I've even snapped off the tube like thing they come out of and they still come back.

What the heck is it? I could try to get a pic but i'm not sure how it will come out ...

thank you!
kat

It sounds like ... vermetid? Vermestid? Worms. They let out a long goober of mucous to catch floating food particles, and then reel it back in. (They're actually a kind of snail, too.)

They're harmless, if somewhat unsightly. If you want to kill 'em, get an insulin syringe, fill it up with saturated kalkwasser (not paste, it probably won't go through the needle,) and inject it into the tubes. Do as much damage as you can with the needle, too, while you're doing it.

 

[Reeftanker3295]

Sounds like a vermetid snail, as zook said they let out these webs to catch food.
Magic reefer, I dont think i've ever heard of aptasia shooting out webs and that picture is yellow polyps not aptasia.

 

[nyfynest22]

+1 vermetid snail i had them to its a good thing.. they dont harm anything.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Vermetid snails. They are cool animals that help clean up ditritus and are harmless.

Alfred

 

[SevTT]

+1 vermetid snail i had them to its a good thing.. they dont harm anything.

They -can- cause irritation to various corals if their mucous strands continuously keep them annoyed and closed up. But I think you have to have a pretty heavy infestation or very small frag sizes for this to be a real problem.

 

[nyfynest22]

in that case how do you remove them if needed?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Cut them off using bone cutters at the base or crazy glue him at the top where he opens up (Both methods will kill the little guy though ) Or remove and replace the rock and give it to someone who wants it

 

[ed51802]

there good u have a reef tank correct thats diversity