Worm I.D. please

Piper1 · 10/15/2007, 04:59 PM

Can anyone tell me what these worms are and it harmful? They seem to have ridges that run all the way down them. NOt legs, but more like ridges. They are long and skinny and white. thanks

Salamander · 10/15/2007, 05:52 PM

Looks like arms from a micro brittle star.

Marsfrogie · 10/15/2007, 06:16 PM

Commonly just called a bristle worm. Those extensions can get stuck in your skin if you touch it with your bare hand. You can blast em with concentrated kalkwasser in a turkey injector to kill them.

Edit: Now that i look at it again I might be inclined to agree with the previous answer.

Paintbug · 10/15/2007, 06:22 PM

thats micro brittle stars for sure. nothing to worry about, good to have.

Anemonebuff · 10/15/2007, 06:23 PM

Agree that they are brittle star legs. Plus, bristle worms ain't bad neither.

Piper1 · 10/15/2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paintbug
thats micro brittle stars for sure. nothing to worry about, good to have.

thanks for the help, all of you. I did a google search on micro brittle star, and sure enough, thats what it appears to be. Since it seems to be in the middle of the rock, with its legs sticking out different holes, can its whole body come out, or could he grow too big within the rock to get out? Will I get to see all of him down the road at some point, moving around the tank?

yellowwatchmen · 10/15/2007, 06:58 PM

you probabaly have a bunch of them.

Paintbug · 10/15/2007, 06:58 PM

chances are it is full grown. some times you will see them out completely. especially at night.

10/15/2007, 04:59 PM	#1
Piper1 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 103	Worm I.D. please Can anyone tell me what these worms are and it harmful? They seem to have ridges that run all the way down them. NOt legs, but more like ridges. They are long and skinny and white. thanks Last edited by Piper1; 10/15/2007 at 05:12 PM.

10/15/2007, 05:52 PM	#2
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Looks like arms from a micro brittle star. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

10/15/2007, 06:22 PM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	thats micro brittle stars for sure. nothing to worry about, good to have. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

10/15/2007, 06:58 PM	#8
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	chances are it is full grown. some times you will see them out completely. especially at night. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

10/15/2007, 06:16 PM	#3
Marsfrogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 463	Commonly just called a bristle worm. Those extensions can get stuck in your skin if you touch it with your bare hand. You can blast em with concentrated kalkwasser in a turkey injector to kill them. Edit: Now that i look at it again I might be inclined to agree with the previous answer.

10/15/2007, 06:23 PM	#5
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Agree that they are brittle star legs. Plus, bristle worms ain't bad neither.

10/15/2007, 06:58 PM	#7
yellowwatchmen Moved On Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bellevue,NE Posts: 1,058	you probabaly have a bunch of them.