What the heck is this in my tank?

OneReef · 07/06/2009, 06:59 PM

I see these things from time to time. Had one in a zoa rock not long ago, and the zoas withered up and died. Not sure if this thing was the cause of it, but it was living in that rock at the time, with its 'arms' all over the rock. I saw this one coming out of another rock tonight, and got a picture. Seems like some kind of tiny star, but it has dozens of little filament like legs, that can stretch really far out, like 6-8 inches. Is this good or bad, and what is it??

Blown76mav · 07/06/2009, 07:04 PM

I want to say is a barnical (sp?) Pretty sure its ok. I have a few in my tank as well.

OneReef · 07/06/2009, 07:10 PM

I just googled barnacle pictures. Doesn't look like what this is.

Salamander · 07/06/2009, 07:21 PM

Its a spaghetti worm

SKremk · 07/06/2009, 07:25 PM

It's a Cirratulid, or Hair worm. It is a beneficial scavenger.

OneReef · 07/06/2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SKremk
It's a Cirratulid, or Hair worm. It is a beneficial scavenger.

Could it kill zoanthids on a rock by being all over them, or was that probably coincidence?

sikpupy · 07/06/2009, 07:38 PM

I have one or two. I hope they are good as i can not kill them. I have fresh water dipped them along with iodine solution for up to 10 minutes and they were just fine when I dropped them back in.

YoungReefer06 · 07/06/2009, 08:02 PM

SKremk is correct, it is a hair worm aka Cirratulid polychaete, which is different from a spaghetti worm. They are beneficial to have and help clean the sand bed, and in at least my tank they reproduce quite well. Some hobbyist claim that they seem to irritate zoos and other polyps, but I have not seen this in my tank, even when the worm has its "hairs" draped across a colony collecting detritus.

Kyle

YoungReefer06 · 07/06/2009, 08:08 PM

I actually just responded to what it is and how some people say it can irritate zoos after only looking at the photo, and not reading what you wrote. Maybe they can really stress zoos although in my tank the polyps don't even bother to close when these worms searches for food over and around them.

If you suspect it may be stressing your zoos just scoop it up (with the sand surrounding it as they are fragile) and move it to an open area in your sand bed. They do seem to move around every couple days to feed in a new location, and if you see it move right back to your zoos I would probably remove it as some "fishy" is probably going on.

Kyle

07/06/2009, 06:59 PM	#1
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	What the heck is this in my tank? I see these things from time to time. Had one in a zoa rock not long ago, and the zoas withered up and died. Not sure if this thing was the cause of it, but it was living in that rock at the time, with its 'arms' all over the rock. I saw this one coming out of another rock tonight, and got a picture. Seems like some kind of tiny star, but it has dozens of little filament like legs, that can stretch really far out, like 6-8 inches. Is this good or bad, and what is it??

07/06/2009, 07:04 PM	#2
Blown76mav Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lima, Oh Posts: 500	I want to say is a barnical (sp?) Pretty sure its ok. I have a few in my tank as well. __________________ I thought that this tank was big enough, now I know I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 240g in wall, 150g sump.

07/06/2009, 07:21 PM	#4
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Its a spaghetti worm __________________ 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

07/06/2009, 07:25 PM	#5
SKremk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 529	It's a Cirratulid, or Hair worm. It is a beneficial scavenger. __________________ -Scott Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef, 3x250w Belize sun fixture, SWC 180 skimmer, 2 MP40

07/06/2009, 07:10 PM	#3
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	I just googled barnacle pictures. Doesn't look like what this is.

07/06/2009, 07:38 PM	#7
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I have one or two. I hope they are good as i can not kill them. I have fresh water dipped them along with iodine solution for up to 10 minutes and they were just fine when I dropped them back in.

07/06/2009, 08:02 PM	#8
YoungReefer06 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Eastern Shore Posts: 285	SKremk is correct, it is a hair worm aka Cirratulid polychaete, which is different from a spaghetti worm. They are beneficial to have and help clean the sand bed, and in at least my tank they reproduce quite well. Some hobbyist claim that they seem to irritate zoos and other polyps, but I have not seen this in my tank, even when the worm has its "hairs" draped across a colony collecting detritus. Kyle

07/06/2009, 08:08 PM	#9
YoungReefer06 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Eastern Shore Posts: 285	I actually just responded to what it is and how some people say it can irritate zoos after only looking at the photo, and not reading what you wrote. Maybe they can really stress zoos although in my tank the polyps don't even bother to close when these worms searches for food over and around them. If you suspect it may be stressing your zoos just scoop it up (with the sand surrounding it as they are fragile) and move it to an open area in your sand bed. They do seem to move around every couple days to feed in a new location, and if you see it move right back to your zoos I would probably remove it as some "fishy" is probably going on. Kyle