Predator Fish for Vermetid Snail infestation
- Thread starter italquam
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Macdaddynick1
Valuable Member
I couldn't find any predator fish for these guys, but I did find a solution to pretty much every problem in my reef tank, starting with Astrea starfish, to vermetid snails, to picking up things from hard to reach places. A few different size Stainless steel forceps off of ebay. https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduc...pyQZg-nzv9B6FWxLxPNsYoPcNmivXpNxoCQQsQAvD_BwE
Kamden Uelton
Well-Known Member
never heard of an emerald crab eating a vermetid snail...
EDIT : Just looked it up and apparently they do... guess thats why my vermetid snails eventually disappeared
Kamden Uelton
Well-Known Member
however a seagrass wrasse will eat Vermetid snails, and any other invertebrate you have.
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italquam
Valuable Member
I haven't yet but I am open to try anything.
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italquam
Valuable Member
The issue with removing manually is that I have hundreds.
Kamden Uelton
Well-Known Member
Jesus you have a lot, if you don't have any inverts or clams i'd get a seagrass wrasse, They actively prey on most invertebrates and aren't considered invert safe.
You could also go with the Emerald Crab method and buy like 5 or so cause ya gonna need a lot of crabs for that!
You could also go with the Emerald Crab method and buy like 5 or so cause ya gonna need a lot of crabs for that!
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italquam
Valuable Member
I will most likely try the sea grass wrasse, but I will need to invest in a screen top if they are jumpers like most wrasse are
Frogger
Active Member
I know someone who's green spotted puffer fish has eaten all the vermetid snails in their tank that it could reach. Might also eat any crustacean it can get is mouth around. Worth a try if you are at wits end.
McPuff
Valuable Member
Hmm, maybe I just don't have enough emerald crabs in my tank! Was worried they would end up competing for food but I only have 2 in a 300 gallon reef. Better get more! I have a friend that added a few bumble bee snails in his 40 cube and saw immediate results... and visual evidence that the reduction in vermetids was caused by the snails. I believe bumble bee snails are predatory though so keep an eye on them and your other snails.
@italquam you could certainly try to manually crush those shells or use a chisel to guage them out. I've done that for the large vermetids. I also cut them up using bone cutters (the fish do eat them afterward). Forceps would not work on those large guys... the shells are way too thick.
I've got a 40 gallon lagoon in the system housing a humu trigger. Really can't tell if he eats any vermetids in there but I don't see new ones popping up. That said, I'm sure there are toothy predators that WILL eat them. Probably just need some luck to get the right species AND the right individual of that species. As always, keep the community updated on any progress!!!!
@italquam you could certainly try to manually crush those shells or use a chisel to guage them out. I've done that for the large vermetids. I also cut them up using bone cutters (the fish do eat them afterward). Forceps would not work on those large guys... the shells are way too thick.
I've got a 40 gallon lagoon in the system housing a humu trigger. Really can't tell if he eats any vermetids in there but I don't see new ones popping up. That said, I'm sure there are toothy predators that WILL eat them. Probably just need some luck to get the right species AND the right individual of that species. As always, keep the community updated on any progress!!!!
Thales
Valuable Member
Needled nose pliers of various sizes and shapes are great for V's. If you have a ton, you will make a dent very quickly - do the easy ones first, then start to go for the hard to reach ones. Don't feel overwhelmed by numbers, just get cracking...it goes faster than you think it will.
Hemmdog
10K Club member
Only my big male emerald crab eats vermetids; the female eats bubble algae, not sure if that’s just my crabs so take it fwiw lol.
A good size green or red coris wrasse, dog face puffer, triggerfish.
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