please identify this worm

duane9 · 02/15/2009, 08:13 AM

I saw this worm swimming in my reef tank, I have recently lost an aneome, some mushrooms, candy aneome, and some soft polyps, brain coral and a flower pot. My water parameters were in line according to the lfs. Today I found this 6 to 7" hairy worm swimming, crawling in my tank. Could this be the reason my all my losses. My wife is getting upset with the lost and the dying of the creatures. Before we buy more we want to correct anything that is wrong.

Tank is 75 gal. About 120lb live rock. We use crushed coral over an underground filter with three power heads, 8 54w 48" T5's supplied by Reef Geek. We have 40 gal refugium with phosphate and carbon filters, plus reversed lighting with live grass and live mud, which then passes over crushed clam and oyster shells. Tank been running for close to 2 years.

I have a beautiful yellow tang, marroon clown and a lime green wrasse, and a hugh cleaner shrimp that are doing fantastic, except the clown who misses having an anenome around.

temp 79 to 80, ph about 7.5, no nitrate or nitrites. hardness about 120, by weekly 15% RO water changes. We add purple up and Kalkwasser dosing. Coraline grow is doing decent.

We would really like to have some healthy looking corals and mushrooms growing without the fear of them dying. Any help or ideas would be very greatfull as this hobby helps to reduce some stress with all the living colors.

[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...C_0230-med.JPG[/IMG]

This worm was about 6" to 7" long before it split apart during removal

colorfan45 · 02/15/2009, 08:47 AM

a bristle wom perhaps

colorfan45 · 02/15/2009, 08:47 AM

worm

Rich D · 02/15/2009, 09:17 AM

AAAAHHHHH THAT THING IS FREAKY!!!!!!!!!

JCJHET · 02/15/2009, 11:05 AM

Looks to be a Amphinoid (fire worm)
Check here for a match
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

duane9 · 02/16/2009, 05:32 AM

That looked like the same type of worm, and from the description is capable to kill of the other inhabitants. Does anyone know if or how they reproduce? I found two little worms, about 1/2 inch near the hole this large worm crawled into and I would hate to reinvesst in more polyps and anenomes over to offer them up for dinner.

duane9 · 02/16/2009, 06:27 AM

According to Short Take this is a rare find for this type of worm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/short.htm

I'm still not sure if I eliminated future attacks because of reproduction. This worm ate entire large candy anenome in one nite.

duane9 · 02/16/2009, 07:12 AM

Thanks JCJHET for the headstart into getting more info

drdoug · 02/16/2009, 06:29 PM

These worms tend to eat dead or decaying matter I have a ton of these and they have never affected livestock.

rgrobe · 02/16/2009, 07:00 PM

I'm not sure what kind of worm it is. I do know that it doesn't look like my bristleworms.

Of more concern to me would be the pH level you listed. If this is a reef tank I believe that 7.5 is way too low. Although a fluctuation is normal, optimum pH in a reef tank is around 8.3. Anemones and other corals may not like the pH range you have. What are you alkalinity readings? If you are adding kalkwasser are you testing calcium and alk? If so what are those parameters?

02/15/2009, 08:13 AM	#1
duane9 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlantic City NJ Posts: 181	please identify this worm I saw this worm swimming in my reef tank, I have recently lost an aneome, some mushrooms, candy aneome, and some soft polyps, brain coral and a flower pot. My water parameters were in line according to the lfs. Today I found this 6 to 7" hairy worm swimming, crawling in my tank. Could this be the reason my all my losses. My wife is getting upset with the lost and the dying of the creatures. Before we buy more we want to correct anything that is wrong. Tank is 75 gal. About 120lb live rock. We use crushed coral over an underground filter with three power heads, 8 54w 48" T5's supplied by Reef Geek. We have 40 gal refugium with phosphate and carbon filters, plus reversed lighting with live grass and live mud, which then passes over crushed clam and oyster shells. Tank been running for close to 2 years. I have a beautiful yellow tang, marroon clown and a lime green wrasse, and a hugh cleaner shrimp that are doing fantastic, except the clown who misses having an anenome around. temp 79 to 80, ph about 7.5, no nitrate or nitrites. hardness about 120, by weekly 15% RO water changes. We add purple up and Kalkwasser dosing. Coraline grow is doing decent. We would really like to have some healthy looking corals and mushrooms growing without the fear of them dying. Any help or ideas would be very greatfull as this hobby helps to reduce some stress with all the living colors. [IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...C_0230-med.JPG[/IMG] This worm was about 6" to 7" long before it split apart during removal

02/15/2009, 09:17 AM	#4
Rich D Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CT Posts: 828	AAAAHHHHH THAT THING IS FREAKY!!!!!!!!! __________________ “Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don't go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won't laugh at you.” Current Tank Info: 120 display 40 gallon approx. sump

02/16/2009, 05:32 AM	#6
duane9 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlantic City NJ Posts: 181	That looked like the same type of worm, and from the description is capable to kill of the other inhabitants. Does anyone know if or how they reproduce? I found two little worms, about 1/2 inch near the hole this large worm crawled into and I would hate to reinvesst in more polyps and anenomes over to offer them up for dinner. __________________ 75 gallon in wall display, 40 gallon refug., 8x54w T5's Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef, 25 gallon refug, 8x 54w T5 Lites, Skimmer, GFO/Carbon Reactor

02/16/2009, 06:27 AM	#7
duane9 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlantic City NJ Posts: 181	According to Short Take this is a rare find for this type of worm http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/short.htm I'm still not sure if I eliminated future attacks because of reproduction. This worm ate entire large candy anenome in one nite. __________________ 75 gallon in wall display, 40 gallon refug., 8x54w T5's Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef, 25 gallon refug, 8x 54w T5 Lites, Skimmer, GFO/Carbon Reactor

02/16/2009, 07:12 AM	#8
duane9 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlantic City NJ Posts: 181	Thanks JCJHET for the headstart into getting more info __________________ 75 gallon in wall display, 40 gallon refug., 8x54w T5's Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef, 25 gallon refug, 8x 54w T5 Lites, Skimmer, GFO/Carbon Reactor

02/15/2009, 08:47 AM	#2
colorfan45 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 159	a bristle wom perhaps

02/15/2009, 11:05 AM	#5
JCJHET Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: OH Posts: 124	Looks to be a Amphinoid (fire worm) Check here for a match http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

02/16/2009, 06:29 PM	#9
drdoug Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Citrus Heights, CA Posts: 187	These worms tend to eat dead or decaying matter I have a ton of these and they have never affected livestock. __________________ Dr Doug Loehrer Current Tank Info: 3'x3'x20" Cube Build in process. 92g corner w/ African Cichlids

02/16/2009, 07:00 PM	#10
rgrobe Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Diego area Posts: 416	I'm not sure what kind of worm it is. I do know that it doesn't look like my bristleworms. Of more concern to me would be the pH level you listed. If this is a reef tank I believe that 7.5 is way too low. Although a fluctuation is normal, optimum pH in a reef tank is around 8.3. Anemones and other corals may not like the pH range you have. What are you alkalinity readings? If you are adding kalkwasser are you testing calcium and alk? If so what are those parameters?