strange growth

[sansouci01]

One of my turbo snails died. I just left the empty shell in the tank for my hermits. It's kind of hidden near my rocks so I haven't paid much attention to it until today. I noticed a strange growth on it. It's on most of the shell. Anyone know what it is?
Attached Thumbnails

 

[uh.oh...]

little filter feeding worm, don't remember the actual name. You should see more around on your liverock

 

[bribo12]

Vermetid snail. They're harmless IMO. Some people on the forum hate them but I've seen no ill effects from having them

 

[sansouci01]

OK..so that's a worm or a snail on my empty snail shell??? Looks more like some kind of fungus to me...

 

[bribo12]

It's a snail

 

[sansouci01]

If it's a snail..it hasn't moved off of the shell in 4 days. Are we talking about the same thing? I'm talking about the brownish colored growth on top of the empty shell..

 

[bribo12]

Yes they're sessile and live in spiral tubes. They send out mucous nests to trap debris and microorganisms to feed on

 

[sansouci01]

OK..kind of a barnacle...right? Thanks..Another cool thing in my tank

 

[bribo12]

No they're a snail lol.

 

[sansouci01]

lol...I never see any movement. Do the ever move?

 

[bribo12]

Not like other snails but they poke little antenna out of the shell sometimes. Check right after you feed your tank

 

[sansouci01]

just took out my magnifier glasses and holy cow...lots of life going on there. looks like copepods living there to and you're right, they are tube looking things when you look at them close up..

 

[Dav3]

Hate these snails. I've been breaking their shells and covering them in glue. Their nets irritate my corals to no end. I have a zero tolerance for them now.

Read:http://reefbuilders.com/2012/07/23/vermetid-snail-stony-corals/