Vermetid Worm Outbreak (Tube Worms) - How do I get rid of them? Why do they only seem to Like Monipo

[that Reef Guy]

I have always had a Few Vermetid Worms (The Tube Worms) but they never seemed to bother anything.

But now I have an Outbreak and a Ton of them are popping up all of a sudden.

Why?

They seemed to Favor my Montipora Danae (Superman, Poker Star, Sunset, etc.).

But now I am even seeing them in my Montipora Caps.

I have a Big Monti Cap and noticed three new ones today.

Why do they like Montipora and not attach to other Corals?

I had Frags with one before but now I have Frags with 6 of them!

They are burrowing in the Corals and surely will kill them.

So the Big Question - How do I get rid of these Pests?

 

[Mike J.]

You can simply break them off at the bottom. Be careful, some can be sharp.

 

[that Reef Guy]

You can simply break them off at the bottom. Be careful, some can be sharp.

That does not work as they just Slide Down Deeper into the Tube and Grow the Tube Back.

Any other suggestions.

 

[Mike J.]

That's why I said, "break them off at the bottom." Another way would be to superglue their tube shut. They can spread through a tank and really cobweb it up.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Wrasses love them..... I occasionally take the cutters to them, just exposing some of the worm itself and my Ornate Leopard Wrasse does cleanup. I to have noticed there affinity towards Montipora species over others though mine seem to cover over them as fast as the worm casing grows. Before doing any cutting I stir up the sand bed a bit and this highlights all the slime trails.

Cheers, Todd

 

[miyags]

my copperbanded butterfly ate all the ones it can reach.

 

[cromag27]

Vermetid snails are different than tube worms. Which do you have?

 

[that Reef Guy]

Vermetid snails are different than tube worms. Which do you have?

What is the difference?

I thought that they were the same thing?

 

[that Reef Guy]

Will a Dip in Revive by Two Little Fishies Help kill them or are they Immune to that?

 

[TJ's Reef]

The Vermetid Snail has a calcarious spiraling casing/shell and seem to be able to close up enough that dips don't harm them much. Most tube worms have a leather like casing which Wrasses and many B-flys have no difficulty with.

Cheers, Todd

 

[slapshot]

A little epoxy mixed with super glue. Locks them in their home until they starve.

 

[Usatennisfan]

Bump, I have the same issue in my tank. I see more in my sandbed than anything else. Following along.

 

[that Reef Guy]

A little epoxy mixed with super glue. Locks them in their home until they starve.

Couldn't they just Burrow out the Back and form a New Tube and then it stars all over again?

 

[Usatennisfan]

Anything reef safe that preys on vermitid snails? Someone suggested to me an arrow crab (I also have quite a large problem with bristleworms) but I don't trust any crabs, especially with my mandarin...

 

[weaponsofmassdesign]

Couple pics from Google...

Vermitid Snail

Tube Worm

 

[that Reef Guy]

Couple pics from Google...

Vermitid Snail

Tube Worm

Yes, they are the Snails in the Hard Tubes not the Baby Feather Dusters.

If you Glue the Hard Tube Shut couldn't they just Burrow out the Back and form a New Tube and then it stars all over again?

 

[weaponsofmassdesign]

I've scraped many off with my finger nail from the base and left nothing behind. From what I've seen everything is on top of the rock and they don't borrow into it.

 

[weaponsofmassdesign]

A buddy of mine used to have a bunch of them. Seems like they almost disappeared a couple months after he added a Yellow Coris Wrasse. Could've been something else but I've read a couple times that they might eat them.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Yes, a Yellow Coris or Radiant Wrasse will take out smaller Vermetids and Bristleworms and Feather Dusters and Asterinas and mini Brittle Stars and Pyramidal Snails and zoa eating Nudibranchs and Planaria................ LOVE these guys (so will many other Wrasses but these two are my favorite)

Cheers, Todd

 

[Palting]

Just like you, I used to fret about them. I posted on at least 3 forums, got a ton of well meaning advice, and drove myself crazy trying them all. Once they get into the tank, you cannot get rid of them. There is no predator reliable enough to get rid of them completely. I've left them alone since then, and have had no problems with them the last 3 years.

Here's a few things I've found out. One, they do not harm coral nor impede their growth. Two, encrusting coral will encrust right over them, even monti cap. Three, as the tank matures, they will recede into the darker recesses of the rock where you either cannot see them or the coral will catch your eye first. In fact, I think they stabilize my rockwork by anchoring them together!!

So, my advise: leave them alone, don't drive yourself crazy, just concentrate on your coral management and they will recede into places you don't care about.