Hitchhiker? Tube worm?

rad1687 · 12/15/2010, 04:40 PM

Hey guys, I have a few 'threads' coming off of my live rock. It is too fine to be able to photograph, but it looks like long silk feathers coming out that just blow in the current. They appear to be 3 to 4 inches long, and come out of different areas. Is this just some sort of filter feeder? Friend or foe? Thanks!

aleonn · 12/15/2010, 05:20 PM

Could be vermetid snails. Harmless, but can multiply quickly and release lots of annoying mucus nets. I'd remove them now.

SushiGirl · 12/15/2010, 07:41 PM

Is it threads or mucus? If it's mucus, it's vermetid snails. If it's hairs, it's probably spaghetti or hair worms.

T-dub · 12/15/2010, 08:16 PM

sounds like a spaghetti worm but need pics!

rad1687 · 12/20/2010, 02:32 PM

So what type of worms?

rad1687 · 12/20/2010, 05:40 PM

Please help!

israel.kendall · 12/20/2010, 05:58 PM

Maybe if you could try to get a closeup picture of where the hair things attach to the rock, what sort of structure are they coming out of? Is it a hard tube?

SushiGirl · 12/20/2010, 06:27 PM

Turn off the powerheads & let the current settle down so it's not blowing all over the place, then try to take a closer pic of where it's attached to the rock.

Alternatively, just google the suggested worms in this thread & see if you recognize anything.

noahm · 12/20/2010, 06:52 PM

Ctenophore

cool critters. I call them fishermen. The feather comes out of an amoeba looking blob stuck on the rocks. I had them all over my return for about 6 months. Haven't seen them since.

look at the ctenophore pics about halfway down the page. Link

SushiGirl · 12/20/2010, 06:57 PM

Good call, noahm...totally forgot about those!
Hopefully they'll look all the different stuff up & let us know!

rad1687 · 12/20/2010, 08:22 PM

awesome noahm! Thanks so much!

12/15/2010, 04:40 PM	#1
rad1687 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 622	Hitchhiker? Tube worm? Hey guys, I have a few 'threads' coming off of my live rock. It is too fine to be able to photograph, but it looks like long silk feathers coming out that just blow in the current. They appear to be 3 to 4 inches long, and come out of different areas. Is this just some sort of filter feeder? Friend or foe? Thanks!

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12/15/2010, 05:20 PM	#2
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Could be vermetid snails. Harmless, but can multiply quickly and release lots of annoying mucus nets. I'd remove them now.

12/15/2010, 07:41 PM	#3
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Is it threads or mucus? If it's mucus, it's vermetid snails. If it's hairs, it's probably spaghetti or hair worms.

12/15/2010, 08:16 PM	#4
T-dub Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Marshall, MN Posts: 214	sounds like a spaghetti worm but need pics!

12/20/2010, 02:32 PM	#5
rad1687 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 622	So what type of worms?

12/20/2010, 05:40 PM	#6
rad1687 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 622	Please help!

12/20/2010, 05:58 PM	#7
israel.kendall Padawan Reefer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Land O Lakes Posts: 922	Maybe if you could try to get a closeup picture of where the hair things attach to the rock, what sort of structure are they coming out of? Is it a hard tube?

12/20/2010, 06:27 PM	#8
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Turn off the powerheads & let the current settle down so it's not blowing all over the place, then try to take a closer pic of where it's attached to the rock. Alternatively, just google the suggested worms in this thread & see if you recognize anything.

12/20/2010, 06:52 PM	#9
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	Ctenophore cool critters. I call them fishermen. The feather comes out of an amoeba looking blob stuck on the rocks. I had them all over my return for about 6 months. Haven't seen them since. look at the ctenophore pics about halfway down the page. Link

12/20/2010, 06:57 PM	#10
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Good call, noahm...totally forgot about those! Hopefully they'll look all the different stuff up & let us know!

12/20/2010, 08:22 PM	#11
rad1687 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 622	awesome noahm! Thanks so much!