What is this??

[tdawn66]

Today I noticed a web-like substance about 8 inches long originating off some live rock. It has tiny pearl-like globules scattered throughout. Currently, I have a cleaner shrimp, snails, crab, tiny star fish, refugium.. no fish. I did add copopods about 3 weeks ago... anyone know what this is? It's not visible on camera.

 

[jake65]

Sounds like it could be a vermetid snail trying to trap food from the water column. Vermetid snails live in a small calcium based tube that protrudes from live rock and sometimes the bases of live corals. They produce a single line of mucous that they hold on to like a kite string, but use as a sticky flypaper fishing line that traps food in the water column. They then reel this line in and chow whatever they cought on the line. You could do a search on them and see if it resembles whats in your tank.
hth
Jake

 

[reef18ster]

+1 vermetid snail, based on description.

 

[estanoche]

+1 vermetid snail, based on description.

and +1 on finding its hidey tube, and putting some super glue over the top and sealing him into a tomb.... they multiply, and the web they produce irritates nearby corals. The snails become a PITA pretty quickly, especially when you start filling your tank with tons of corals

 

[NC2WA]

this may help:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

 

[tdawn66]

That is exactly what I have! You guys are awesome! It's wonderful to have so much variety of life- my 10-year old son finds new things every day..and you help me explain what they are!!!! Thanks so much!