Need ti identify a hitch hiker

bretdajet · 12/31/2006, 03:26 PM

My wife comes to me and says what did you buy?!? Nothing I respond. She points out a wormlike creature reaching out from a piece of liverock. I have not added any new rock in 2 months and have not seen this guy before.

He is reaching out from the rock about 3 inchs. He has a black and white color pattern. I would describe it as a reverse snoflake eel pattern.

I am concerned if it may be a potential problem critter. I will make an attemp at a picture later.

sir_dudeguy · 12/31/2006, 04:26 PM

is it stuck to the rock? (like with a tube or something that is stuck to the rock, and the worm comes out of the tube).

Generally in this hobby, if the animal stays in one spot and does not move around the tank, they're usually just filter feeders (if it cant move, it cant find food....gotta get it out of the water then), so it may just be a harmless tube worm or something

Acroholic · 12/31/2006, 04:32 PM

It might just be the arm of a Brittle Star or a Serpent Star reaching out from under/behind a rock for some groceries.....
Pictures will be more helpful in a more positive identification...

Twisted · 12/31/2006, 05:30 PM

Sounds like a tentacle from a serpent star the is living in the live rock as Acroholic said.

It may also be a peanut worm or something, I had a small black peanut worm with white speckles awhile back.

Either way it is not a pest, it would be benificial. With out a picture it is really hard to say.

rodgod20 · 12/31/2006, 08:40 PM

I suggest peanut worm...I have about 5-6 of them in my 6-G....take a red light and watch the tank at night

bretdajet · 12/31/2006, 09:07 PM

It is not a tube worm from what I can see. It comes straight out of the rock, not a tube. I tried to get a picture but I am unable to get enough light on it to focus. When I shine a flashlight near the worm it retracts back into the rock. Because of this I am asuming it has a means of sensing light from the end of this apendage. That would make me shy away from the serpent star. It sounds as if it is not a pest though.

I will try again to get a pic.

rodgod20 · 12/31/2006, 09:15 PM

don't use a white light....use a red light and you will be able to get a pic. I suggest going to walmart and getting a camping light with red leds. I think I paid 10 bucks for mine.

Drix · 01/01/2007, 01:40 AM

I've got a peanut worm in my tank, I wouldn't really say it looks like a tubeworm, more like an end of dark spagetti that comes out of a round hole, flops around a bit looking for food, and goes in with *any* color light at all except blue apparently (it diddn't like my red light, but seems ok with blue?).

Anyhow, that may be it, did you check the 250 photos id under starfish and worms?

bretdajet · 01/01/2007, 10:00 AM

Walmart here I come.
Thanks for the tip.

12/31/2006, 03:26 PM	#1
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	Need ti identify a hitch hiker My wife comes to me and says what did you buy?!? Nothing I respond. She points out a wormlike creature reaching out from a piece of liverock. I have not added any new rock in 2 months and have not seen this guy before. He is reaching out from the rock about 3 inchs. He has a black and white color pattern. I would describe it as a reverse snoflake eel pattern. I am concerned if it may be a potential problem critter. I will make an attemp at a picture later. __________________ Brett S. Wilford

12/31/2006, 04:26 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	is it stuck to the rock? (like with a tube or something that is stuck to the rock, and the worm comes out of the tube). Generally in this hobby, if the animal stays in one spot and does not move around the tank, they're usually just filter feeders (if it cant move, it cant find food....gotta get it out of the water then), so it may just be a harmless tube worm or something __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

12/31/2006, 04:32 PM	#3
Acroholic Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hypoluxo, Fl. Posts: 1,000	It might just be the arm of a Brittle Star or a Serpent Star reaching out from under/behind a rock for some groceries..... Pictures will be more helpful in a more positive identification... __________________ "I don't always know what I'm talking about, but I know I'm right!" -Muhammad Ali Current Tank Info: 180 Diamante Oceanic, 3 400w 10k Hammy's w/IceCaps, 2 140w URI super actinics, AC III Pro, 30g sump, 30g refug, 1/3hp chill, PM Skimmer/kalkreactor/calcium reactor/effluent, 2 Tunze 6060's, 2 Gorman Rupp 1115's, 25w UV

12/31/2006, 08:40 PM	#5
rodgod20 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 459	I suggest peanut worm...I have about 5-6 of them in my 6-G....take a red light and watch the tank at night __________________ "If your going through hell, Keep going" -Winston ChurchHill- Current Tank Info: 65G (90lbs of LR, CSS125, ATO,Oceans Motions, 33x turnover) LPS tank

12/31/2006, 09:07 PM	#6
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	It is not a tube worm from what I can see. It comes straight out of the rock, not a tube. I tried to get a picture but I am unable to get enough light on it to focus. When I shine a flashlight near the worm it retracts back into the rock. Because of this I am asuming it has a means of sensing light from the end of this apendage. That would make me shy away from the serpent star. It sounds as if it is not a pest though. I will try again to get a pic. __________________ Brett S. Wilford

12/31/2006, 05:30 PM	#4
Twisted Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 1,221	Sounds like a tentacle from a serpent star the is living in the live rock as Acroholic said. It may also be a peanut worm or something, I had a small black peanut worm with white speckles awhile back. Either way it is not a pest, it would be benificial. With out a picture it is really hard to say.

12/31/2006, 09:15 PM	#7
rodgod20 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 459	don't use a white light....use a red light and you will be able to get a pic. I suggest going to walmart and getting a camping light with red leds. I think I paid 10 bucks for mine. __________________ "If your going through hell, Keep going" -Winston ChurchHill- Current Tank Info: 65G (90lbs of LR, CSS125, ATO,Oceans Motions, 33x turnover) LPS tank

01/01/2007, 01:40 AM	#8
Drix Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 590	I've got a peanut worm in my tank, I wouldn't really say it looks like a tubeworm, more like an end of dark spagetti that comes out of a round hole, flops around a bit looking for food, and goes in with any color light at all except blue apparently (it diddn't like my red light, but seems ok with blue?). Anyhow, that may be it, did you check the 250 photos id under starfish and worms?

01/01/2007, 10:00 AM	#9
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	Walmart here I come. Thanks for the tip. __________________ Brett S. Wilford