Another "what is it" ID needed

[SteveM]

I have these "things" on the base of 2 of my corals that seem to put out a "spider web" type of material and was wonder what they were. Anyone have any ideas and are they ok or do I need to remove them?

 

I think they are some type of worms but I have never had any that put out this slimy web type stuff.

 

Its the white curl type thing in this pic. At the end of it it is kind of fuzzy and it puts out these "threads"

 

Its the pink round thing in this pic. If you use a turkey baster and blow water at it it shrinks down.

 

Edited January 5, 2008 by SteveM

[dhoch]

In the first pic... can you put an arrow to show what you are talking about?

 

Really hard to tell from pictures... my guess would be some kind of worm in a calcerous shell, but can not confirm without seeing closer.

 

Dave

[stratos21ss]

Sounds like the vermetid snails mentioned here.

[Rascal]

They look like some kind of flatworm or nudibranch to me. Do they move around, or are they stationary?

 

I would just monitor the coral carefully. It doesn't look damaged in any way to me, so you're probably OK.

[lanman]

Have you touched them? Are they HARD, or soft?? The first one looks like the beginning of a grey sponge; if so - get it the heck out of the tank, they spread all over, and smother corals when they can. Sponge will not be hard and calcareous. If it is a vermetid, shouldn't be a problem, the coral will grow around it, and it won't do any damage from my experience.

 

bob

[SteveM]

Sounds like the vermetid snails mentioned here.

 

 

After looking at the info on that page, they do seem to be vermetids. Very interesting, never thought of something like this being a snail. It doesn't seem to bother the corals though and from what I read they don't seem to be a bad thing. Thanks everyone.