What Killed My Snail? with pic

[Beverly]

Over the last few months, have had a variety of snail deaths in my 120g. In an effort to reduce them, have boned up on reef chemistry, found a new home for a snail eating dwarf flameback angel, and removed two different hitchhiker snails. All have had positive results.

However, I am still finding dead snails in one specific place in my bare bottom 120g when the lights go on. These snails are either picked clean with no body visible or there is a jelly-like substance around the partially decaying body. There is also a jelly-like substance surrounding the dead snail that collects detritus as well as fine wispy jelly stuff that also captures detritus.

Pic of the snail I found this morning. Notice the wisps of jelly surrounding the snail and the detritus caked to the snail's side:



Any idea what might be killing these red banded astrea snails? If so, how can I catch/kill the snail killer?

Have also posted this on RC. TIA for any insight into this problem

[props]

i caught my peppermint shrimp muching on a couple of snails at night time =o/

[Beverly]

No shrimp of any kind in the tank. Fish, coral are not affected. None of the other dead snails found in other parts of the tank were jellied up like this one and the others found in the exact same place.

[muck]

Found on another board:

I found the culprit of the Astrea snail deaths in my Reef tank. I had
(emphasis on past tense) a large worm (18 inches long, 1/4 inch in
diameter) that I caught devouring one of my snails last night. This
beast was hunter orange with a hint or red, and had a row of feet down
both of its sides. It was lightning fast, so I had to remove the
rock that it was burrowed into, from the tank. The only way I could
get rid of it was to drop Kalkwasser with an eyedropper into the
burrow where it was hiding, and then it slithered right out (freaked
my wife out, who was helping me <grin> - she's a good sport).

Anyway, if you have such a beast, beware.

[Beverly]

Interesting, Ryan, and freaky at the same time Can you tell me which board and thread your quote came from? Maybe I can talk to this guy.

[muck]

Its from 1994 though...
http://www.thekrib.com/Marine/pests.html

[Beverly]

Thanks for the link. Eleven years old, though.... Maybe the guy's dead by now

[andestang]

Its probably a Oenone Fulgida worm. I had one a few years back and it pretty well cleaned up on all my snails I found where its lair was and had to remove the rock it was in and stick it in fresh water to kill it. (along with my live rock) Hope this helps

[Beverly]

Ande,

I think you are right. Here's an article about reef worms:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.htm

My worm:

Oenone are nocturnal predators on snails and clams, and perhaps some other animals. They appear to extend from their burrow, and as they approach their prey they apparently secrete some mucus that covers the prey. This mucus may simply smother the prey, or it may contain some venom or narcotizing agent. After the prey is immobilized the worm extends a proboscis from the bottom of the head into the mucus and the jaws grasp the body of the prey. The jaws may also cut the attachments of the body to any shells, or alternatively the mucus may contain an agent that chemically severs the attachment. In any case, the prey's body is ingested. When the aquarist investigates the scene the next morning, all that typically remains is an empty snail or clam shell covered in a blob of mucus. Not many other predatory animals in marine aquaria typically leave behind such remains, consequently a dead, empty, shell covered with mucus is considered to be good evidence of the presence of an Oenone.

I'm not usually up very late and the worm probably does its dirty deads while I'm fast asleep. The dead snails are located near a small group of rock. Am thinking of setting up a bucket of 1/2 tankwater and half kalk/RO and placing all the rock in the group into the bucket. Unfortunately, there are mushrooms and button polyps on some of the rock. Think the tankwater/kalk/RO mix will remove the worm and not hurt the corals very much?

[Beverly]

Just mixed up a small sample of 2 parts tankwater with 3 parts kalk/RO. pH is 10.10 and SG is 1.013. Later this afternoon when Chris comes home, am going to dismantle the rock in the small pile and soak the two rocks I suspect the worm might be in. If I don't find it in those two, will move onto the other low rocks, then work my way up the pile.

Am somewhat concerned about the button polyps and shrooms on two of rocks the worm might be in. Thoughts, comments, concerns