Hitchhiker ID?

[angel237]

I need a hitchhiker ID. They are in brown tubes on one of my liverocks. I have about 4-8 of them. They have the spiderwebs coming out of it. Are they good or bad?

 

[jrandolph1]

They are a type of snail. Kinda look like poop with web right. The web is shot out and catches particals of food and then reeled in for the snail to eat. They are completely harmless.

 

[angel237]

Thanks!!!
They are snails?? I never seen them move around. It seems like they are stuck in one spot!

 

[jrandolph1]

Yeah that is as best as they have been described to me. I have had my tank like over 2 years now and they have never caused any problems other than the occasional fish swimming through the web and the particals of food looking like ick on the fish. =)

 

[nick76]

their not snails, I know exactly what your talking about.
Their little purple-Brown tube worms, Harmless filter feeders that shoot out a thin web material to catch food in the water. Impossible to get rid of. Im not sure of their true name though. I think its something with a D.

 

[angel237]

Thanks. Just making sure they are harmless!!! Never seen them actually. And only see the webs and the tubes. And I coudln't find them on the hitchhiker list here! So making sure!!!

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by Angel237
Thanks!!!
They are snails?? I never seen them move around. It seems like they are stuck in one spot!

If they secrete a mucus strand like a web then they are vermetid snails. Not all snails move. They are like worm tubes, but in fact are snails. Very common and harmless.

 

[nick76]

Wow they really are considered snails? Do u have a picture of what your refering to? Maybe im thinking of something else then... :notsure:

 

[ophiura]

Yup
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/163870/snails

 

[nick76]

Yep ok that is what I was thinking of, Yay I learned something new today

Hmm Why a snail and not classified as a worm?

 

[jrandolph1]

Cool. Good to know the info I received was correct cause I learned that here at saltwaterfish.com. I love this web site. Very benificial when you own a saltwater tank.

 

[angel237]

Thanks again everyone...
Oh by the way I finally posted pictures of my tank that you can find in the nano tank section.

 

[newtankman]

Does it look like this? And when it retracts, does it pull itself all the way in?
If so its called a vermetid snail. but i does look like a worm... :thinking:

 

[angel237]

Mine seem more light brown, also they have a round part at the bottom. They don't seem that long, a little shorter.

 

[jrandolph1]

Same thing just a little different variety. Yeah mine look more like poo =).