Burrowing worm ID needed

Wizzard~Of~Ozz · 02/06/2008, 08:53 AM

I found this little guy burrowed into a piece of rubble, sorry the item was in the sump and the lighting sucked..

I have no idea what this is, but here is the information I have.

One shown is approximately 1.5" long, about 1/4" diameter. Other dead ones on a rock were up to 3/4" in diameter (decapitated at some point, just the skin was lining the inside of the hole)
They appear to eat into the rock.
The head causes what feels like a shock when squeezed, no marks or visible injury at contact site.
Rock is Fiji Prem.
appeared green in colour. (tho it was dead..)

Upon attempt to pull the worm out of the rock, it's skin broke and the center came out like a long string of snot. (sorry, no better way to describe it) so it appears to affix itself into the burrow.

I removed the piece of rubble, but still have a 20lb piece with similar things in it.

Any thoughts? closest thing I could find was Priapulida Worms which look similar, but make no mention of stinging/shocking..

If it is a bad thing, would boiling or baking the rock kill it off? (the tank hasn't cycled yet, I have 150lbs of Fiji in there, so I'm sure life would return to it.)

fish4lyfe · 02/06/2008, 09:28 AM

That looks like a featherduster to me

Skeptic_07 · 02/06/2008, 09:41 AM

I could be wrong but, maybe its (was) a peanut worm? i think they look like that when they're out of their hiding spot and i know they're frequent hitch hikers from fiji. I was actually going to ask a question about these guys today becayse I have one of these things in my tank and it was picking at my duncanopsammia. That part that you tore off, extends to look for food at night and is called the proboscis. I've never heard of them stinging although i'm sure they have jaws of some kind because when mine is eating i can faintly hear a cracking noise when itt akes a bite. I'm surprised you were actually able to catch it though, mine retracts so fast when i try to get ti with the foreceps, its crazy! The thing moves faster than my eyes can see.

dileggi · 02/06/2008, 09:45 AM

I'm wtih Skeptic. The pic is a little blurry, but it looks like it's possibly a peanut worm. The form looks like the two I have noticed in my tank.

Wizzard~Of~Ozz · 02/06/2008, 09:47 AM

Hehe, its easy to catch when it was crushed under 70lbs of liverock in a box (it was in a frag at the bottom of the box).

I did pinch it with my fingers to try and pull it out, it was with applied pressure that I got what felt like an electric zap..

Do peanut worms burrow through rock?

Oh, and sorry about the picture being fuzzy, I was hoping the shape could be enough.. the lighting down there is not that great, nor is the macro on my camera..

Skeptic_07 · 02/06/2008, 10:04 AM

i think they do. Heres an article i found about them.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rs/index.php

"The tropical species tend to burrow into the limestone of the reef and form permanent tubes in the rocks. They burrow by secreting chelating substances that dissolve limestone, and then they use a roughened area of the cuticle, such as the nuchal shield, to abrade the places were dissolution has occurred."

02/06/2008, 08:53 AM	#1
Wizzard~Of~Ozz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 187	Burrowing worm ID needed I found this little guy burrowed into a piece of rubble, sorry the item was in the sump and the lighting sucked.. I have no idea what this is, but here is the information I have. One shown is approximately 1.5" long, about 1/4" diameter. Other dead ones on a rock were up to 3/4" in diameter (decapitated at some point, just the skin was lining the inside of the hole) They appear to eat into the rock. The head causes what feels like a shock when squeezed, no marks or visible injury at contact site. Rock is Fiji Prem. appeared green in colour. (tho it was dead..) Upon attempt to pull the worm out of the rock, it's skin broke and the center came out like a long string of snot. (sorry, no better way to describe it) so it appears to affix itself into the burrow. I removed the piece of rubble, but still have a 20lb piece with similar things in it. Any thoughts? closest thing I could find was Priapulida Worms which look similar, but make no mention of stinging/shocking.. If it is a bad thing, would boiling or baking the rock kill it off? (the tank hasn't cycled yet, I have 150lbs of Fiji in there, so I'm sure life would return to it.)

02/06/2008, 09:28 AM	#2
fish4lyfe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar park, texas! Posts: 367	That looks like a featherduster to me __________________ Send me pictures of your fish, or fishtanks i would love to see them! Current Tank Info: 29 gal

02/06/2008, 09:45 AM	#4
dileggi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S. Philly PA Posts: 1,171	I'm wtih Skeptic. The pic is a little blurry, but it looks like it's possibly a peanut worm. The form looks like the two I have noticed in my tank. __________________ Eric "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Usual Suspects Current Tank Info: 90g w/30g sump; skimmer; 2x175w MH & 2x super white actinic...3g w/.5g fuge 1x150w MH Viper

02/06/2008, 09:41 AM	#3
Skeptic_07 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lawn guy land Posts: 1,418	I could be wrong but, maybe its (was) a peanut worm? i think they look like that when they're out of their hiding spot and i know they're frequent hitch hikers from fiji. I was actually going to ask a question about these guys today becayse I have one of these things in my tank and it was picking at my duncanopsammia. That part that you tore off, extends to look for food at night and is called the proboscis. I've never heard of them stinging although i'm sure they have jaws of some kind because when mine is eating i can faintly hear a cracking noise when itt akes a bite. I'm surprised you were actually able to catch it though, mine retracts so fast when i try to get ti with the foreceps, its crazy! The thing moves faster than my eyes can see.

02/06/2008, 09:47 AM	#5
Wizzard~Of~Ozz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 187	Hehe, its easy to catch when it was crushed under 70lbs of liverock in a box (it was in a frag at the bottom of the box). I did pinch it with my fingers to try and pull it out, it was with applied pressure that I got what felt like an electric zap.. Do peanut worms burrow through rock? Oh, and sorry about the picture being fuzzy, I was hoping the shape could be enough.. the lighting down there is not that great, nor is the macro on my camera..

02/06/2008, 10:04 AM	#6
Skeptic_07 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lawn guy land Posts: 1,418	i think they do. Heres an article i found about them. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rs/index.php "The tropical species tend to burrow into the limestone of the reef and form permanent tubes in the rocks. They burrow by secreting chelating substances that dissolve limestone, and then they use a roughened area of the cuticle, such as the nuchal shield, to abrade the places were dissolution has occurred."