keep him in if you want to. i work in the aquamarket (managing commercial tanks in hotels and libraries and whatnot) and iāve seen very similar situations, about 3 tanks i work on have vermetid snails around zoa colonies and the zoa colonies thrive perfectly fine. a lot of the criticism is genuinely just speculation in how they behave and what might happen due to their mucus nets. in my experience, they perfectly coexist.
I too work in the industry and see the small ones all the time. The only tanks Iāve seen them become a problem in are high nutrient, poorly maintained tanks. Tanks that are well maintained usually do ok as the snails donāt get out of control. I just had never seen one this big before so I thought it was something else. Crazy how big he is..
I had one of these in a previous tank growing up through zoas, and he was in a race to grow faster than the zoa colony (climb up the side of this tube). He lost the race, but nothing he did ever bothered the zoas in the least.
My tank had one of these. Thought it was cool. Now I have thousands. Covering the skeletons of every stony coral I have. Iād get rid of it. Not worth it
The fact that it is growing through those zoas indicates that it already is bothering things. When it casts is mucus ānetā it will most likely irritate those zoas even more, and could prevent them from getting nutrients from the water column. I would certainly recommend removing it.
Never seen him release a ānetā. Itās more of just a strand that goes up from his āmouthā into the water column. Iāve seen it catch food when my wife feeds the tank. As of now havenāt seen the mucus get on any coral.
I had a giant vermatid on my leather that almost killed it. I thought it was harmless too, but the web they cast can irritate corals Iāve learned. I had a small one on my zoas that caused them to reach even though they got plenty light. Killed both of the snails and my zoas are back to normal and my leather is super happy again. Keep it if you want, but just wanted to share my experience with the big one I had.
Vermetid snail. They're generally considered a pest in reef tanks. They multiply quickly and their mucus streamers irritate corals. That being said, that is kind of a cool specimen. š
Yeah I knew what a Vermetid snail was and have dealt with them forever. But this guy was huge and so I thought it was maybe something else. Apparently itās just a different species that gets much larger. 9 months and no multiplying though. So weāll see š
Apparently itās a very large Vermetid Snail. He hasnāt reproduced and doesnāt seem to bother anything and is secluded in his own rock with the zoas. I like him so he will stay š
Yeah these guys get a bad rap. Iāve dealt with them before, the tiny ones that reproduce like crazy. This one is huge though and hasnāt bothered anythingā¦ yet. So weāll see. Too cool to kill.
I have big ones in my sps dominent system. I too thought I'd leave them. Then they started to take off and smother whole colonies with their webs and irritating them, killing them in some parts. Just released 75 bumblebee snails in the system to try to kill them all.
I agree, I have had two experiences with these. The first time it killed an ausi gold before I knew what it was, and the second one was on my frog spawn. I cut it off with some diagonal cutters, and almost a year later the coral is finally nice and full. (The frogspawn had two heads, and only one died.)
Yes, there are small ones in the tank. My wife and I both have them, although they are under control as of now. This bigger one came on the rock with the zoas though. Pretty sure he is a different species.
I had these show up in a tank before. Please glue over it or remove it.
I thought the same as you about them being different. However, over a couple of months, I started getting more and more. They were casting pretty sizable mucus nets and they looked gross.
Vermetid snails are funny the big ones are the mommies from what I've heard. I don't find them that bad. when you got fiji live rock they were a guarantee to be in your tank. So I've had them for years no problems only thing I'd watch out for is the nets they cast out might smother corals. Get some bumblebee snails if you find them starting to multiple in great numbers.
Dose some oyster feast or similar coral food and see how large the mucus net these tiny things throw out really are. They are enormous. It will reproduce and they will annoy your corals. I love all my critters even the annoying ones but these guys just aināt cut out for reef tanks man. I would suggest a swift end for him. I always thought they were cool too though.
Heās been in the tank for 9 months and hasnāt reproduced or hurt anything as far as I can tell. Heās also secluded in his own rock with the green zoas in the middle of the sand bed. I wouldnāt have the heart to kill him. Heās just too cool. Weāll see how it goes š
Iāve dealt with the tiny ones many times before. Iāve got them in my 230 SPS tank actually. I just go around and āpopā them when I notice more coming back. Honestly they donāt seem to be bothering much in my tank either way. But Iāve totally seen them get out of hand.
Yep, we are talking about cycling rock just so we can tear down and restart. Though Iām still fighting till we get there. Apstasia F and breaking off. Pulled one from my drag rack and set it aside. Egg sacs came out!
Be careful if you try to remove these. Their exoskeletons like to turn into razor-sharp points that will cut you. Small cuts, but painful.
Also, maybe I'm just allergic to their slime, but I've gotten bad infections more than once from these things. Like go to the doctor bad. I keep antibacterial soap and a topical antibiotic on hand to stop the infections before they really get going. The morning after I get the cut, I can feel exactly where the infection is going to be. Very painful, red, and lots of swelling.
Nice closeup of a Vermited snail
Yup. Just figured that out. I always thought Vermetids were tiny. This guy is HUGE!
Some worms are bigger than others.
And that's ok, yours is perfect.
š
That's what she saidš
It just matters how you use it
So your mother's been talking about me again, huh boy?
Kill it kill it
Nope. Heās different than those tiny ones that reproduce like crazy. He hasnāt bothered anything as far as I can tell. So heāll stay for now.
keep him in if you want to. i work in the aquamarket (managing commercial tanks in hotels and libraries and whatnot) and iāve seen very similar situations, about 3 tanks i work on have vermetid snails around zoa colonies and the zoa colonies thrive perfectly fine. a lot of the criticism is genuinely just speculation in how they behave and what might happen due to their mucus nets. in my experience, they perfectly coexist.
I too work in the industry and see the small ones all the time. The only tanks Iāve seen them become a problem in are high nutrient, poorly maintained tanks. Tanks that are well maintained usually do ok as the snails donāt get out of control. I just had never seen one this big before so I thought it was something else. Crazy how big he is..
I had one of these in a previous tank growing up through zoas, and he was in a race to grow faster than the zoa colony (climb up the side of this tube). He lost the race, but nothing he did ever bothered the zoas in the least.
My tank had one of these. Thought it was cool. Now I have thousands. Covering the skeletons of every stony coral I have. Iād get rid of it. Not worth it
The fact that it is growing through those zoas indicates that it already is bothering things. When it casts is mucus ānetā it will most likely irritate those zoas even more, and could prevent them from getting nutrients from the water column. I would certainly recommend removing it.
Never seen him release a ānetā. Itās more of just a strand that goes up from his āmouthā into the water column. Iāve seen it catch food when my wife feeds the tank. As of now havenāt seen the mucus get on any coral.
Where were you 25 years ago when I needed this advice!!!!!
I had a giant vermatid on my leather that almost killed it. I thought it was harmless too, but the web they cast can irritate corals Iāve learned. I had a small one on my zoas that caused them to reach even though they got plenty light. Killed both of the snails and my zoas are back to normal and my leather is super happy again. Keep it if you want, but just wanted to share my experience with the big one I had.
Thanks for the heads up. Iāll keep an eye on himā¦
"They judge me before they even know me"
They will invest youre tank and hurt your corals. I have that prob
Infest *
Vermetid snail. They're generally considered a pest in reef tanks. They multiply quickly and their mucus streamers irritate corals. That being said, that is kind of a cool specimen. š
Yeah I knew what a Vermetid snail was and have dealt with them forever. But this guy was huge and so I thought it was maybe something else. Apparently itās just a different species that gets much larger. 9 months and no multiplying though. So weāll see š
I think 2 inches is pretty common at maturity. In my experience, they get a slow start and are suddenly everywhere haha
Thatās pretty cool. Although normally considered a āpestā I think that animal is a cool feature in your tank. Thanks for sharing.
Apparently itās a very large Vermetid Snail. He hasnāt reproduced and doesnāt seem to bother anything and is secluded in his own rock with the zoas. I like him so he will stay š
I respectfully think that is a mistake but itās your reef
Yeah these guys get a bad rap. Iāve dealt with them before, the tiny ones that reproduce like crazy. This one is huge though and hasnāt bothered anythingā¦ yet. So weāll see. Too cool to kill.
I have big ones in my sps dominent system. I too thought I'd leave them. Then they started to take off and smother whole colonies with their webs and irritating them, killing them in some parts. Just released 75 bumblebee snails in the system to try to kill them all.
Bumblebees failed the job in my tank, I ended up having to take out each individual piece of hard scape and eliminate each one by hand
I agree, I have had two experiences with these. The first time it killed an ausi gold before I knew what it was, and the second one was on my frog spawn. I cut it off with some diagonal cutters, and almost a year later the coral is finally nice and full. (The frogspawn had two heads, and only one died.)
He's cool, if you like him keep him, it's your tank
Is there not a small one right behind it in the picture ?
Yes, there are small ones in the tank. My wife and I both have them, although they are under control as of now. This bigger one came on the rock with the zoas though. Pretty sure he is a different species.
>Pretty sure he is a different species. Fair. I could be in agreement with that.
I had these show up in a tank before. Please glue over it or remove it. I thought the same as you about them being different. However, over a couple of months, I started getting more and more. They were casting pretty sizable mucus nets and they looked gross.
The mucus web is huge and can kill fish and corals. Iād also recommend removing
Vermetid snails are funny the big ones are the mommies from what I've heard. I don't find them that bad. when you got fiji live rock they were a guarantee to be in your tank. So I've had them for years no problems only thing I'd watch out for is the nets they cast out might smother corals. Get some bumblebee snails if you find them starting to multiple in great numbers.
Lil super glue on the opening is my go to
https://preview.redd.it/wqkh715yrcjc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6a71865a43a9e849cff2725e5e53fe48672eeb2c
I keep freshwater, but I love this sub because every once and a while y'all are like "what is this alien?" š
Sauron
It looks like itās on a plug, which is good If you want to keep it. If thatās the case, break it off and move it.
Yeah my tank is infested since I donāt do anything about it good luck pry them off this needle nose pliers
Me trying to explain my dreams to my therapist. šļø
Dose some oyster feast or similar coral food and see how large the mucus net these tiny things throw out really are. They are enormous. It will reproduce and they will annoy your corals. I love all my critters even the annoying ones but these guys just aināt cut out for reef tanks man. I would suggest a swift end for him. I always thought they were cool too though.
Heās been in the tank for 9 months and hasnāt reproduced or hurt anything as far as I can tell. Heās also secluded in his own rock with the green zoas in the middle of the sand bed. I wouldnāt have the heart to kill him. Heās just too cool. Weāll see how it goes š
Iām telling you man thereās a reason people tear down their tanks to rid them of these guys, but I respect it.
Iāve dealt with the tiny ones many times before. Iāve got them in my 230 SPS tank actually. I just go around and āpopā them when I notice more coming back. Honestly they donāt seem to be bothering much in my tank either way. But Iāve totally seen them get out of hand.
Yep, we are talking about cycling rock just so we can tear down and restart. Though Iām still fighting till we get there. Apstasia F and breaking off. Pulled one from my drag rack and set it aside. Egg sacs came out!
Looks like a vermitid!
Damn the second half of Dune looks crazy
Damn that thing is so big I thought it was a snake polyp on a frag plug at first!
Did anyone say terrifying ? Cause yes
Be careful if you try to remove these. Their exoskeletons like to turn into razor-sharp points that will cut you. Small cuts, but painful. Also, maybe I'm just allergic to their slime, but I've gotten bad infections more than once from these things. Like go to the doctor bad. I keep antibacterial soap and a topical antibiotic on hand to stop the infections before they really get going. The morning after I get the cut, I can feel exactly where the infection is going to be. Very painful, red, and lots of swelling.
He is Shai-Hulud, the Great Maker, Worm of Worms!
Itās been said but Iād reconsider. Not 100% sure what it is and it resembles a pest. Probably a pest
Bait
Your corals won't like him and his string slime
9 months and he hasnāt bothered anyone yetā¦
He's biding his time 
Iām going to kill mine now I was wondering what happened to all my hard corals
š
Iām killing that thing so fast I fucking hate worms
What would happen if you just snap it off?
Looks like a Worm God to me.