anyone know what this is?

**Michael** · 12-01-2009, 03:00 PM

only been a reefer for almost 2 yrs and havent seen one of these until today in my kids 55gl

**Captinsmooth** · 12-01-2009, 03:11 PM

Looks like the some type of feather duster tube. Is that a opening on the top?

An post it in here you can be the first...lol Invertebrate ID - The Talkingreef Community

**saxman** · 12-01-2009, 03:51 PM

it's a Vermetid gastropod. it will send out a web-like net to catch food particles in the water column and pull them in.

**Phurst** · 12-01-2009, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by saxman

it's a Vermetid gastropod. it will send out a web-like net to catch food particles in the water column and pull them in.

Yup, that's it

**Michael** · 12-01-2009, 04:53 PM

yeah it has 2 openings, will their size increase?
sorry did i post in the wrong place? im new to forums

**CarmieJo** · 12-02-2009, 01:22 AM

This was the perfect place to post it. The openings don't increase in diameter but there is another species that is thinner. I have both types.

**THEJRC** · 12-02-2009, 01:36 PM

they do tend to become abundant, not a bad thing really as they're good critters to have. Just watch your hands when working in the tank they can give you quite the poke!

**lance** · 12-02-2009, 04:22 PM

Vermetid gastropod

**lance** · 12-02-2009, 04:23 PM

oops didn't see someone answered this already

lance

**saxman** · 12-03-2009, 05:48 PM

i dunno why i didn't post a pic, but here's one to compare it to:

**rroselavy** · 12-07-2009, 03:39 PM

I've got quite a few Vermetids in my tank. Big ones and small ones. I have read that they sometimes clog pumps when their population grows too large. I sometimes find deposits in my pumps, but nothing that affects performance. Once in a while I go on crushing spree with a pair of forceps to eliminate the ones who cast webs near my corals, but I otherwise leave them be.

**2in10** · 12-19-2009, 08:36 PM

They will increase the length of their tube until they clear any obtructions immediately near by.

**2in10** · 12-19-2009, 09:31 PM

Here are a couple of pics to illustrate. The first shows my open brain it is about 7.5 x 5 x 3inches tall in the pic.

The second shows a vermitid snail. The tube is about 2 inches tall. It is almost 3/16 in diameter.