Help ID This Large Worm Which Comes Out At Night (Pics)

joeychitwood · 01/18/2006, 09:52 AM

I first noticed this large worm during a red-light check of my tank a couple of hours after the lights turned off the other night. I've not seen it before. The exposed body was about three inches long, and it's about 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter.

When I turned the room lights on, it withdrew into a hole in the LR. Can anyone help ID this worm for me? Is it a good guy or a bad guy?

LeslieH · 01/18/2006, 10:21 AM

It's a chiton in the genus Cryptoplax. Beneficial cleaner.

joeychitwood · 01/18/2006, 10:37 AM

Thanks, LeslieH! I found photos on Google based on your ID, and that's it. From what I've read, it seems to be a large specimen.

Tammy3770 · 01/18/2006, 11:12 AM

thats the same one I have,
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=753301

MyMonkey · 01/18/2006, 11:15 AM

Cool little buggar.

joeychitwood · 01/18/2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tammy3770
thats the same one I have,
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=753301

That's it. Yours has the same markings on its back, only mine is quite stretched out.

I'm always amazed at the new critters that show up after months in the tank.

BLAZEHOK68 · 01/18/2006, 12:56 PM

EWWWW...

Tammy3770 · 01/18/2006, 01:03 PM

yea I can tell by your pic that its the same kind.
as you can see from my post there that I've been seeing mine for quite a long time.
when I was googling it some article said they can live up to 20 years.

reefpeep2004 · 01/18/2006, 01:43 PM

I have one of those. I've only seen him once though.

01/18/2006, 09:52 AM	#1
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	Help ID This Large Worm Which Comes Out At Night (Pics) I first noticed this large worm during a red-light check of my tank a couple of hours after the lights turned off the other night. I've not seen it before. The exposed body was about three inches long, and it's about 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter. When I turned the room lights on, it withdrew into a hole in the LR. Can anyone help ID this worm for me? Is it a good guy or a bad guy?

01/18/2006, 10:21 AM	#2
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	It's a chiton in the genus Cryptoplax. Beneficial cleaner. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

01/18/2006, 11:12 AM	#4
Tammy3770 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 315	thats the same one I have, http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=753301 __________________ I can only do so much before I decide I've done enough Current Tank Info: 100 us gallon (60"x18"x24") yeay!!

01/18/2006, 11:15 AM	#5
MyMonkey Persona Non Grata Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 2,106	Cool little buggar. __________________ The worst thing about an unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it. Current Tank Info: 20 Long.10 months to my 240 In wall with Fish Room.

01/18/2006, 01:03 PM	#8
Tammy3770 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 315	yea I can tell by your pic that its the same kind. as you can see from my post there that I've been seeing mine for quite a long time. when I was googling it some article said they can live up to 20 years. __________________ I can only do so much before I decide I've done enough Current Tank Info: 100 us gallon (60"x18"x24") yeay!!

01/18/2006, 10:37 AM	#3
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	Thanks, LeslieH! I found photos on Google based on your ID, and that's it. From what I've read, it seems to be a large specimen.

01/18/2006, 12:56 PM	#7
BLAZEHOK68 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: nj Posts: 14	EWWWW...

01/18/2006, 01:43 PM	#9
reefpeep2004 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Long Beach CA Posts: 728	I have one of those. I've only seen him once though.