So these worms got my hammers

[Cwentz758]

So my hammers have always done very well and were the size of soft balls about a month ago and now I see they’re getting hard and turning colors on their bases and my only conclusion is these friggin worms. (Pics)

Is there any way to bring them back? Will picking off the tubes help?

 

[FangsAndGames]

*Shakes chemical warefare bottle with malicious intent.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...t-reef-tank-pests-52-Weeks-of-Reefing-BRS160/

 

[un5tab1e]

Vermited snail, break the tube at the bottom and try to kill it or super glue the top of the tube with gel superglue.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I have a small computer screwdriver kit, I use the smallest attachment that I never use and put it in the hole of the snail shell and pry. Keep doing it until you get to the meat of the snail and repeat on all the others. You want to get to the base where it spirals.

Once they are gone your Hammers should recover fine.

 

[schuby]

I've had my hammer coral for more than a year and I've had vermetid snails for almost a year. My hammer has continued to grow and split, from 2 heads to about 10 now. Your problem may be something other than the vermetid snails.

What changes have you made in the last two months? Feeding, flow, dosing, fish, corals, lighting, water changes, temp, alk, ph, ...

 

[Doctorgori]

I hate those things, grab the wrong thing and your hand gets punctured .... I agree with the above post, those things wouldn’t be my 1st suspect...could be but do your do diligence

 

[Cwentz758]

I was in a Dino battle which involved dosing of silicates and a huge bloom. I haven’t dosed in about 2 months. They seemed ok during the bloom unlike my SPS. But this past month they’ve shrunk into what we see here. And the snails are the only new think I’ve noticed on them

 

[minus9]

You need to crush the base in order to kill them, where it spirals. Breaking the tube does nothing. Glueing the end of the tube works, but it's easier to use forceps and crush away.

 

[Cwentz758]

Did some crushing, can’t hurt the hammers anymore than they are already.

These dang things hitch hiked years ago even survived in a bucket for a year or two with 0 heat.

 

[minus9]

Did some crushing, can’t hurt the hammers anymore than they are already.

These dang things hitch hiked years ago even survived in a bucket for a year or two with 0 heat.

It's amazing what will survive extreme conditions in our tanks (or buckets).