In-store Sessions: Coral Pests (Vermetid Snails) --- Gallery Aquatica TV

We spend some time with passionate Aquarist and qualified Marine Biologist Ania in the store today as she takes us through tips and tricks on how to identify and eradicate these nasty coral reef aquarium pests.
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[@Messier87_M87]

Thank you Gallery Aquatica TV, this video quite possibly saved my tank from a vermetid snail infestation. As of lately Ive noticed a break out of vermetid. After watching this video i did some digging in the tank and found a huge mother vermetid snail that im quite sure has been the culprit. It measured almost three inches long and had three interior channels, almost half inch thick. This is the only video on KZbin that mentions to look for a mother vermetid. Many other reefers recommend throwing out all the live rock and starting over. Thank you for posting these informative videos, you guys are doing a huge service to the reefing community.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Thank you for the kind feedback. This is great news to hear! Thank you so much for sharing with us. The mother sounds like it was huge! So happy you found it! Cheers for watching and Happy Reefing! Ania

[@sergeygorbachev7583]

I love the passion she is describing the Vermitidae with :) Very thorough and professional approach. Thank you

[@boeyworld]

Because of your video now I realize that I have Vermetid snail in my tank. No wonder why my birdnest is dying. Thanks for the video! Now you got one more subscriber.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

boeyworld thank you so much for the lovely feedback, and a giant cheers for subscribing to our channel. Means so much to us that we can help spread the word to combat these nasty little coral killers. The first step is identifying them, the rest is easy! Best of luck with your Seriatopora recovery. -Ania

[@ChristianBiggins]

Ania, my 10 year old daughter is a big fan. She said you give her "good vibes". We love the videos, thanks so much.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Christian Biggins G’day! Thank you so much to both of you for watching! Your beautiful comment has really made my day! Does she get to have a tank of her own yet? Please tell her I said hello. Wishing you both a wonderful week 😊 Ania

[@ChristianBiggins]

@@GalleryAquaticaTV Thanks Ania, she was stoked that you replied! No tank for her just yet, she shares with me :)

[@mickh5519]

Most informative pest video EVER, hands down. Thank you

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Mick H Thank you for taking the time to watch and let us know. Glad to help spread the word about Vermetids. Ania

[@melevsreef]

Nice demo, I enjoyed that. And how you called them “nasty vermetids” 😄👍🏻

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

melevsreef Thanks Marc! And cheers for the fabulous tip about the laser! 👌

[@DeeFromBrooklyn]

It's amazing how pest adapt so well and survive yet the coral struggle. Good video.. Usually pyramid snails kill clams more than those do.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Dee From Brooklyn Agreed. Thankfully Australian livestock does not commonly suffer from pyramid snail invasion. We have even witnessed Bristle worms irritate juvenile and large clams to their death, yet so many will continue to argue they are beneficial clean up crew. There are 10,000 species of polychaete out there and hundreds of species of corals so there would have to be a multitude of combinations which are possible.

[@RookieReefer]

Great seeing you on camera Ania, you should do it more often! Good information, well presented 👌 I'll have to come up and finally check out the store soon.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Rookie Reefer thank you so much for the kind words. I get REALLY super nervous about being on camera. So lucky for Adam’s amazing camera and editing skills to make it seem like I wasn’t as freaked out as I was, hehee. There are a couple more topics I might get the confidence to cover over this year 😆 -Ania

[@RookieReefer]

Some of the most confident people I know freeze up as soon as you point a camera at them so I think you did amazing! I'm certain you have some great knowledge to share so stop holding out on us 😅 keep up the good work.

[@Reefgrrl]

This was an excellent, informative video! It inspired me to tackle what was a small one months ago, that turned into a monster while I dithered about removing it (turned into a breeder, as you so aptly called it, while I wasn’t looking 😱). Thank you for the kick up the a** to get onto it! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jamesgilchrist3661]

Great video, thanks! I have had success getting rid of these pests by using a syringe and filling there tubes with kalkwasser paste or Aiptasia X.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Thanks for the tip! That’s a fantastic idea! Will have to try it!

[@benhowardbath]

This was so good Ania!!! OMG I have Vermetid snails!!!! Now I know why I lost my clams! Thank you again, great channel!!!!!!

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

ben howard bath Thank you so much for the encouraging feedback Ben! I was suuuper nervous to be on camera, I am very grateful for Adams top notch editing making it appear as though I wasn’t! :) So glad the information was helpful. Remove those voracious buggers ASAP!

[@thomasteed2072]

that was a awesome video I was just looking trying to find info on these Vermetid Snails I had no idea what was growing in my aquarium I thought the coral was somehow putting out this web looking net lol. So after looking really close at my birdsnest and duncan I noticed the tube with the snail in it. So just like you said I pulled the corals and snipped off the nasty vermetids, it was easy to do. Thanks for the great info.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Hi Thomas Martin Teed, thank you so much for your comments. So glad you discovered and removed them! Makes us so happy we were able to help. 😊 Ania

[@braveheartreefer525]

Great information on these pests thank for sharing

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Braveheart reefer 525 thank you so much for taking the time to give us your feedback. Cheers for watching!

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Braveheart reefer 525 thank you so much for taking the time to give us your feedback. Cheers for watching!

[@lisadimercurio9473]

Excellent instructions and knowledge

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Thank you so much for the positive feedback. Happy Reefing! ania

[@jerrymoney1479]

Holy molly that’s one huge V. snail colony!! 😅nasty I hate them too. Great video Ania ✌️

[@purified7X]

Thank you for the very informational video. I did not know I had a pest in my tank until after I saw this video. I was wondering why I was getting a spider web like mucus film on one of my rocks. Learned it was a vermetid snail from this video and quickly took it out with a coral clippers. It was introduced through a recent coral purchase, needless to say I will not be purchasing from the same online vendor again.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Hi JohnnB, thank you so much for taking the time to comment and your positive feedback. It means so much to us that we were able to help spread the news these pests need identification and a swift eviction plan. Am so happy you were able to remove it before it multiplied and became a severe issue. Thank you so much for watching! Ania

[@cartucho360]

I completely agree with Rookie Reefer, you're my favorite person, Ania.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Aww shucks, thanks for the compliment Miguel, that’s very nice. Will endeavour to discuss a few more of my favourite Reefing topics in the upcoming future ☺️ -Ania

[@ShowboatHK]

Excellent video!!

[@A.R.C.77]

Finally the reason I was looking for thankyou so much

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Thanks for the kind feedback and cheers for watching! Ania

[@leighwhite1898]

Great bid, I have seen a small population grow in my tank in the last few months. I have 2 peacock wrasse, a sixline and a flasher wrasse and they don't seem to be doing anything. My lfs recommend to try a copperband and I am putting one in the system this weekend but I am also removing manually. Don't have a coral cutters but am definitely going to get one. I am breaking the tube of the snail with my fingers and scraping at the base with a butter knife😂😂 doing a job for the minute but need that cutters

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Good idea Leigh! Maybe try plugging up their tips with glue if you can’t reach them with your new snippers. We have one article here that says Muracid snails predate on them, and lay eggs inside their shell, but sadly we can’t get those snails on the market here in Australia .

[@patrickfeeke5629]

LOL! I love the cuteness at 11:31 "Probably"! That was so funny and cute at the same time. I have this nasty pest in my tank that has begun to attach to the base of my SPS Acros and is out of control.... *sad face*

[@ScooteX]

Awesome video. Very informative...

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Sc00teX Thanks so much for the positive feedback. Cheers for watching ☺️👍

[@jcbueno369]

Love it , thanks for sharing

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Jbueno thank you so much for watching! And taking the time to comment, it means a lot. 😊

[@fuffoon]

I dumped 100 pounds of vermatid infested rock into a cistern of fresh water where it sat for almost a year in stagnation and decay. The vermatid population was still thriving. One week in a 10:1 bleach solution and there were still some well encapsulated unoxidized snail carcasses. I picked away hundreds of little spiral shells.

[@chrisgroves5236]

Really interesting video!

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Chris Groves thank you so much for the positive feedback Chris, we hope the information helps more people avoid the additional challenges and enjoy Reefing :)

[@kellysreef4614]

Nice information to have. I have heard anidotaly that Bumble Bee snails might be an effective predator of the Vermetid snails. Any evidence to that effect?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Kelly's Reef G’day, thanks so much for watching. We can’t really get Bumble Bee snails here in Australia so we haven’t ever been able to test this, but have heard this also there are publications of Muracid snails destroying them also.

[@katrinagander865]

Great video ania

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

fish and out doors sam thank you so much, I’m so happy you watched :) Ania

[@e36m3JeffKennedy]

Thanks again guys👍

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

e36m3 Jeff Kennedy thank you so much for watching ☺️

[@larrytravis9823]

I've heard bumble bee snails also work.

[@fostee1]

Great info. Is there a certain quarantine time to make sure they’re not introduce into main display?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

fostee1 I don’t believe there’s much use for Quarentine with prevention these. Unless it’s to extend observation time to ensure you don’t have them.

[@fishstix1988]

what are your thoughts on using bumblebee snails?

[@heatherbeach3561]

11:30 she bout killed me 🤣🤣🤣

[@chasefolsom8526]

As a fellow female reefer, I think I have a crush!

[@bw2191]

Great info👍

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Brian Wirsta thank you so much. We hope to spread the word amongst the Reefing community of their wrath and help determine a useful control plan. Thanks for watching! -Ania

[@frankpohl8746]

I had a few small ones that usually ended up I my fingers. My last fairy wrasse died and it seemed over night I had hundreds if not thousands. I put fishing line in the bigger ones tubes. I was thinking about a metal or stone polisher with the different shaped and grit stones to clean them off the live rock.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Frank Pohl that’s a great idea! I hope the fishing line worked! Interesting anecdote about your fairy wrasse!! What species? Ania

[@DiepBlueC]

Great video! I own a laser like you describe and have a heck of a vermetid snail infestation. I will try it out! Luckily mine are not the really bad kind, they are smaller and more of an eyesore than a coral killer. I still want them gone :)

[@chichigames4589]

DiepBlueC how did it go with the laser?

[@calipsosreefs4843]

You guys are awesome

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Calipsos Reef thank you so much for your kind words, means so much to us 😊

[@HCBCHEMISTRY]

How informative

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@freakygoblin3068]

Normal snails, such as turbosnails, are another potential source. People normally are careful when introducing corals etc, not so careful on inverts.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

So true!

[@theloneaquarist]

Great vid.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

The Lone Aquarist thank you so much for the lovely feedback. Cheers for watching :)

[@4foxsake571]

Have heard recently that bumblebee snails eat the vermeted snails on a Tidal Gardens video. May want to check out that option.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Yes they do, but we don’t have them in Australia and cannot import invertebrates. Cam

[@4foxsake571]

@@GalleryAquaticaTV Awe. Bummer. :(

[@regentsaquariums5692]

Question,can you use red bug treatment to wipe out vermited snails using dog heartworm Interceptor?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Regent's Coral Aquarium Hi, that’s a very interesting question. Worthy of trialling as an experiment of sorts as to whether or not the operculum is capable of preventing the treatment to enter. It would be interesting to determine the impacts on other inverts and desirable snails within the aquarium. We have one trialled soaking PVC encrusted in them in freshwater, this seemed to be no issues for them whatsoever, and then added bleach, after 6 hours there were about half dead. Then added more bleach, another 6 hours and they were all dead. Wouldn’t ever suggest adding corals to freshwater or bleach though ☺️🤭

[@regentsaquariums5692]

@@GalleryAquaticaTV for sure remove all the inverts before the treatment and place them into a holding system for time being. 2 coral banded shrimps one might die the other cannot survive the second round treatment if left inside during the treatment

[@reefaddict6137]

Needle nose pliers and stave them! I have a gigas, blue squamosa clam that was covered wit them. Got them under control by feeding less and manually crushing them. I'm happy as a clam now lol😊

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Great work! Our mate Shane danger just found a species of Whelk which predates on them, he wrote the article for Reef Builders which should be published soon. So good!

[@jb9090]

Educational... you sound like a marine biologist :-)

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Lol, yes. Both Ania and I have science degrees majoring in Marine Biology. Cam

[@KillerKev1961]

removal is labor intensive, but its gotta be done! Thank you.....

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Definitely, there’s nothing worse than a tank overrun by vermetids.

[@autonomy-nemolover]

Definitely an interesting view on vermetid snails, considering both Julian Sprung and the late Robert (Bob) Fenner consider them to be a harmless addition to any reef. "These long strands entrap detritus and plankton on which the snail feeds. are harmless, and their proliferation indicates the aquarium is healthy". - 'The Reef Aquarium by Julian Sprung and J.Charles Delbeek' . "sessile Vermetid snails may be inevitable, they are helpful filter-feeders, but harsh on one’s hands for their sharp, sturdy calcareous spiral tubes. Frankly, a few tens or even a couple hundred of them in a larger aquarium are a very fine addition to the biodiversity. Vermetids are completely reef-safe and pose no threat to desirable marine invertebrate life”. - Reef Invertebrates an Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibility’ by Robert Fenner and Anthony Calfo.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Incredible how our knowledge of the marine ecosystem evolves! Both Julian and Bob are great Reefing masters and idols of ours!

[@pjshooter6]

Bumblebee snails work, but slowly.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

pjshooter6 Thank you, that’s fantastic news. I had also read of a Muracid snail which kills them and lays its eggs within their empty shells. Unfortunately we don’t have these available to us here in Australia.

[@thomasroewer5673]

@@GalleryAquaticaTV The research on these predatory snails was done in Tahiti and the Muricid snail Thais (Mancinella) armigera can definitely be found in Australian waters as well as in, Indonesia, Taiwan, The Philippines and many other places in the tropical Indo-Pacific: www.gastropods.com/3/Shell_1483.shtml The same should be true for Menathais tuberosa: www.gastropods.com/1/Shell_1491.shtml Maybe you need to talk to some of your Australian fish and coral collectors and see if they can find them. There is definitely a worldwide market for an otherwise reef safe predator that keeps vermetids in check or outright eliminates them.

[@natalbreefing5934]

Epic video! Little buggers. I think I have them on my clams shell. I’ll have to bring you a video and show you so you can tell me. In the mean time I’ll start working in my secret lab to organise a frikkin shark with frikkin lasers attached to their frikkin heads...

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Bahahaha thanks Natal B Reefing.. so funny; the publication where Marc Levenson (Melev) released his laser info legit used a meme of Dr Evil 🤣 -Ania

[@CartersToyBox357]

Is there a active predator that manages these on real reefs, I can’t find one! I wonder what keeps them from taking over a reef in the wild.

[@CartersToyBox357]

I’d guess there is a fish that really controls them in the wild reefs, considering fish work way harder than crabs n urchins. I just don’t believe we’ve found it yet unfortunately.

[@markovichglass]

Nemo needs lasar attachments.....🤗🔥😊🌞🙏🤙

[@kissywissy30]

I think you should get in front of the camera more often Ania 👌

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Kristie Clark thanks so much 🥰 I havent been able to film yet since having our baby but we are definitely going to try get some footage done next week ;) Ania

[@battyjoe]

What about Bumblebee snails, I hear they eat them?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

battyjoe yes. They sure do. But are unfortunately not available to order here in Australia. I thought I had one once in my stash tank and got super excited but I only saw it the one time so never got to identify it properly

[@LesterPaul58]

O mention of the bumblebee snail.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Unfortunately we can’t get Bumblebee snails in Australia😞

[@reefermadness4891]

Vermentid snails called the cops 10:46😂🤣

[@HtxDanny.713]

Hate this pests always a stressful time when I spot one in my reef

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Danny we don’t like them one little bit!

[@imjeremy51]

So, I have little vermetids in my tank. Probably like 10 or so at a time. Once a week I sit there and go on a murdering spree. I recently stepped my game up and instead of just breaking them off the rock, I got a pair of hemostats and I actually grab them and a chunk off the rock and remove them from the tank. Of course, this only works for the ones I can see... I do have some corals that inexplicably are not really doing great... oooof. I might order a small army of bumble-bee snails and remove each rock one by one picking every vermetid from them and rescape my whole tank. UGGGGHHH.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Jeremy2 Thank you so much for sharing. It’s very hard to get to them all. But at least you’re aware of the issue. We don’t have bumblebee snails here in Australia so be grateful that is an option you have! Keep us posted and Best of luck with it! Ania

[@aliceholbert1246]

That vermatid was huge. Ooo a bristle worm. Lol.....

[@insanity4224]

Jake Adams used to use a screwdriver lol

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

RIP ❤️

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

I saw a bunch of these things in the frag tank of my closest aquarium store down here in Melbourne. Turned me off buying anything there, they were lurking on almost every rock and frag plug🤢

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Some species are very prolific and a big problem. Best to carefully inspect all coral purchases before adding to your aquarium. Cam

[@derekodwyer9477]

Should you not start with “Hi I’m Ania the fish girl”

[@techhdan]

Some live footage would of been helpful. Unfortunately, did not really help me at all but thanks for trying.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

That’s unfortunate feedback to hear, sorry you feel that way.

[@MrPackistan]

Sro

[@wd11800]

the mucus does absolutely no dmg to coral tissue , i have like 50 of these snails in my reef tank and they do no harm at all , if any they clean the water and that's a good thing .

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

There are numerous species of vermatids and a great number of varieties of coral. Vermatids vary in their degree of damage they cause, and corals vary in their susceptibility to damage from the mucous net. You’re lucky the vermatids in your tank aren’t affecting your corals, but this only means you don’t have a large enough sample size of reef tanks to understand the potential problems they can cause. Thanks for watching😊 Cam

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

Gallery Aquatica TV lol you low key rekt that guy

[@geraldgreauxjr.7106]

@@bigbowlowrong4694 probably while she slid her glasses down just a bit with her hands folded n looking down as she spoke slowly removing the soul from his body......or that's what I pictured as I read it🤔🤣😅🤣😅

[@coldblooded3]

Vermetidae have been scientifically proven to be detrimental to reefs. Not just coral but also to fish. It’s been observed that while mucus nets were present algae grazing fish were 450% less likely to eat anything on the reef