Spider Like Silky String?

asharp13

Member
i have recently been battling with my tank trying to fight a couple different issues(see my other threads). this has caused me to do a lot of water changes to dilute the bad stuff in the water. during the water changes, and rescaping my tank, i have noticed this silky white, fishing line looking secretion comming from god knows where. i only catch it when it has stuck to many paces in the tank and cant pinpoint its origin. it seems to get stuck to everything it touches and i am wondering if it is a stinging tentacle, if it is harmful to other corals, and where its coming from, why its coming out, and what i do to stop it. it seems to always be around my mushrooms, zoas, hammers, and on some rock hard snail looking hitchhiker that hasn't moved since i brought the rock that its on home. the string is always grayish whitish and semi transparent and is sometimes thin and sometimes really thick and mucusy looking.
Any thoughts?
 

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Vermetid Snails. They produce a sticky mucous strand like a fishing line, let particulate matter collect on it, then reel it back in to dine. They're not really a nusaince, as the mucous string dissolves pretty quickly, but they can be an eyesore from time to time. Mine go nuts when I stir up the sandbed once in a while.
 

asharp13

Member
yea thats what it seems to be cuz he is always in the mix of where the string is touching. i wasnt sure if it was alive at first but i touched it todays and he reeled his body back in. that also must be what is setting him off as ive been reworking my tank scape and disturbing a lot of things. what should i do with him? he is front and center and i dont like the string. can i remove him? is he good for the tank? should i leave him? what do you think nova?
 

9supratt4

Active Member
They aren't a bad thing to have, but they will readily multiply. I started out with a few and now they are everywhere. You can snap them off at their base.
 

asharp13

Member
i got the first one out and realized there was another one in a hard to reach place. does anyone know of something i can squirt it with that will kill it? aptasia x? kalk? hot water?
 
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