Bumblebee vs Colonista vs Vermetid Snails

[blueoverbrown]

I have vermetids they're getting bad. I've been using coral snow for months, I don't think it's working. I was thinking of picking up a few bumblebee snails to help the issue. What I'm worried about is my army of Colonista snails that comes out at night. There must be 500 of them. I'm thinking the bumble bee snails may just eat them instead. Any guesses what food they prefer?

 

[Rocks reef]

As with anything we introduce to "eradicate" a pest, it will be hit or miss. Are you able to manually remove the vermatids that you can see/reach?

 

[blueoverbrown]

As with anything we introduce to "eradicate" a pest, it will be hit or miss. Are you able to manually remove the vermatids that you can see/reach?

I can probably reach less than half of them. It's a 55 gallon long so the space between the rocks and glass is minimal and is a pain. It makes me want to start over with a bigger tank.

 

[jermzisurmom]

What would u do to prevent the introduction of verm. snails or any other pest if u did start over?
I would try introducing bumblebee snails but I would also bust open the base of verm. snail at the same time as introduction of bumblebee snails.

 

[Rocks reef]

Honestly, I would start with 10 bumblesnails.
And to what @jermzisurmom mentioned, there really is no way to not reintroduce them to your system. They can be on any coral/invertebrate/rock you put in the tank.

 

[ED3]

Personally this worked for me. I introduced bumblebees to control boring spionid worms and vermetids. I have witnessed them feeding on them but I also started feeding less and noticed only then were the bumblebees able to make a dent in the population. I feel like starving them out did more than the bumblebees but like I said, I have witnessed them feeding on the pests.


You should note that you will lose other snails when you introduce them, especially the ones that fall and cannot flip themselves over.

 

[blueoverbrown]

Honestly, I would start with 10 bumblesnails.
And to what @jermzisurmom mentioned, there really is no way to not reintroduce them to your system. They can be on any coral/invertebrate/rock you put in the tank.

Would a month long coral quarantine prevent them? I'm guessing the babies would be big enough to identify on frags after a month of growth

 

[blueoverbrown]

Personally this worked for me. I introduced bumblebees to control boring spionid worms and vermetids. I have witnessed them feeding on them but I also started feeding less and noticed only then were the bumblebees able to make a dent in the population. I feel like starving them out did more than the bumblebees but like I said, I have witnessed them feeding on the pests.


You should note that you will lose other snails when you introduce them, especially the ones that fall and cannot flip themselves over.

I slowed down feeding probably three months ago. Now I find myself adding nitrate and phosphate to keep the dinos away. Ive stopped feeding my corals too and I'd really like to resume.

 

[becon776]

I have vermetids they're getting bad. I've been using coral snow for months, I don't think it's working. I was thinking of picking up a few bumblebee snails to help the issue. What I'm worried about is my army of Colonista snails that comes out at night. There must be 500 of them. I'm thinking the bumble bee snails may just eat them instead. Any guesses what food they prefer?

Good luck. I’ve just took a benzomatic to 90% of my rock. FWIW the die quickly and with a satisfying pop with this methods. Some rocks it sounded like Rice Krispies.
They will return but I’ll try to be more diligent. 10yr tank and unwanted coral everywhere I was up for a teset anyway.
I just put 10 BB snails in but doubt they will do anything