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Vermatids

MadReefer

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NJRC Member
Moderator
Hiw can I get rid of these vermatid snails. Si far only on 1 rock.
I have a puffer and wrasse si Bumble Bee snails may not be best.
Should I pull the rock and frag the cabbage coral then put rock in vinegar, bleach or toss it?
 

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MadReefer

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Moderator
They slow coral growth and kill them. Not to mention the snotty string they shoot out looks terrible.
 

MadReefer

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Moderator
Well it seems best is to remove the rock....ugh

 

diana a

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Bumble bees work but it takes time.

Take out the rock. Sit at a window (it's sunny today and is perfect for doing this) Look the rock over. With a knife, scrape at the base of the vert and remove completely. They live at the base. Go to Petco and get 4 Bumblebees if this is the only rock with vert on it.
 

Hockeynut

NJRC Member
They shoot out webs which pisses off corals and ends up damaging them in the long run. And they spread like cockroaches
Thanks it’s strange how after reefing for many years I’ve never had any. Thus the lack of knowledge. Good luck
 

amado

Dal
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I keep a lot of wrasses. 6 line wrasse will eat them.

Bumble bee snail work but they take a long time like Diana said.
 

DangerDave

NJRC Member
I have the small ones (like every mature reef I’ve ever seen) have them. They occasionally get in a position that annoy a coral and I will scrape or crush them.

The big ones are a whole different story.
 
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erics210

NJRC Member
Thanks it’s strange how after reefing for many years I’ve never had any. Thus the lack of knowledge. Good luck
You may have had them but seems to be two versions. Some are little, like the thickness of Sea urchin needles, the others.muxh thicker. Both pit out a mucus thread like netting when food or suspended material is in the water column. This mucus is what causes he coral irritation.

I personally had both. I did a massive manual removal as Diana suggested. Rock by rock, put on the window and used an old wood chisel with a sharp blade.
Just pop or scrape the entire shell off. I did this to all the rocks. Then. I watched the tank later that day after turning my return pump off and feeding reef roofs. Found 3 or 4 more big ones. Got those....
Bumble bees will be my next step to keep in check. Couldn't get them before because I my coral banded shrimp would have made quick work of em I am sure.

He has since passed of old age. 3 years+. He was huge!

Sadly, like asterina, if you ha e one stuck in a crevice, on an overflow box, powerhead cage, etc. They will come back. But this major manual removal is protecting the corals. If I see any mucus I will remove at that point.
Good Luck.

Hard to quarantine for them, because.thwy could be ever so tiny and easily missed when new.
 

diana a

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I
Think I will pull the rock; save the coral and toss the rock.

If you pull the rock and it a nice rock, don’t throw it out. If you 100% to rid it from the rock then just do a bleach/water bath to kill everything on the rock.
 
I wish there was a straight answer as to how to get rid of them. Everything seems to be hit or miss. Even bumblebee snails.
 

ole farny

NJRC Member
Think I will pull the rock; save the coral and toss the rock.

ugh, get rid of the rock. and i hope i'm wrong, but if you have that many on one rock, i'd bet you have them elsewhere too.

i left them on check in a softie tank for a year or more. now i can't get rid of them. about 6 or 8 months ago i removed every rock i could and scraped everyone off i could find and they're all over again already. i've just begun to plan an upgrade and these things are a huge part of the reason for that.

good luck.
 

MadReefer

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Moderator
I pulled that rock and found a few more. I saved the coral and am soaking the rock in water with vinegar. It was bigger than I remember and will posting it for trade/sale. I will rinse and measure it in a few days. I was able move the left side boat and rock back some. Have mire real estate in front now. The power head is clear and more flow.
 

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