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Vermetid Snail

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Vermetid Snail

  • Specific Name: Vermetidae family (various species)

  • Diet: Suspension feeder – captures food particles with mucus webs

  • Pest or Good Guy: ❌ Pest

  • Size: Tube size varies – typically 0.5–2 cm visible shell, with extended mucus web reaching far

  • Breed in Captivity: Yes – can multiply rapidly under favorable conditions

  • Cautions: Their mucus nets can irritate corals, inhibit growth, and trap detritus; removal can be difficult once established

Description:

Vermetid snails are stationary, tube-building mollusks that disguise themselves as harmless reef rubble—until they start flinging out sticky mucus webs to trap food. These webs can smother or irritate nearby corals, reduce polyp extension, and make your aquascape look messy. Unlike other snails, Vermetids don’t move; instead, they anchor themselves in crevices or onto rock, growing hard, calcified tubes that look like tiny worm casings. They often hitchhike in unnoticed on live rock or coral bases, and once established, they’re hard to get rid of. Manual removal (snapping tubes off), gluing over them, or introducing predators like bumblebee snails may help, but prevention is far easier than cure.