Tube worm?

[jjersey85]

What is this thing? inside is some black thing that spreads out a mucus web that catches floating particles that it eats. it never comes out and recently it built a little more tube. Is this thing dangerous, or is it just gonna keep spreading the web and making a mess in my tank when it doesnt eat it all or it gets carried away in the current?

 

[motortrendz]

thats what it sounds like, the pic is really blurry..

 

[jjersey85]

yeah its at an odd angle in the tank and i have a crappy camera, i think there might be some better pics on that photobucket somewhere

 

[KathyC]

No need for a new pic - your description nailed it

It is a Vermetid snail.
Yes, a snail.
You can break the tube but he will either withdraw quickly into the rock & build another one or turn back up elsewhere. I've even tried gluing them in..doesn't work

No harm to the tank, actually eats particles in the water column, but the web they use to feed can be annoying to look at when it is out.

Here's a bunch more info:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

 

[jjersey85]

wow a snail! thats pretty awesome, i love watching it eat cause it looks so weird, i just hate that when i look around the back of the tank theres missed web with stuff stuck to it all over. its weird too cause i was in its tube for close to a month before i ever saw it, i thought the tube was from a tube worm that died or something. thanks for the info, ill be sure to read that link later.

 

[FrostyNYC]

KathyC, you are always a source of interesting info. Impressive.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[KathyC]

wow a snail! thats pretty awesome, i love watching it eat cause it looks so weird, i just hate that when i look around the back of the tank theres missed web with stuff stuck to it all over. its weird too cause i was in its tube for close to a month before i ever saw it, i thought the tube was from a tube worm that died or something. thanks for the info, ill be sure to read that link later.

How did you both fit in there?? lol

Thanks Frosty...much appreciated

I have a few in my big tank and what creeps me out is I always feel like they are watching me- they look like an 'eye' in the tube..yuck. Definitely a cool critter whith an interesting way of eating though!

 

[jjersey85]

lol, have you tried flashing them with light, like from a camera flash? they retract a little but then come out a little further. and yeah mine has white spot on top of its "mouth) that makes it seem like its watching me while it eats lol

 

[rookie07]

I had no idea about these guys. Thanks for the knowledge, and Kathy thanks for the great link


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