Any ideas what this is??

medic29 · 10/10/2007, 07:09 PM

I have no idea what this is...

I thought it was just some sort of algae and it was on one side of my tank, down on the sand bed near some live rock. Tonight I noticed that it is in various places near or on the sand bed throughout the tank. I am not sure how to describe it. It is thin, thread-like; orange in color.

Tonight we think we saw this move one of the threads and pull some food down to the sandbed. I can't see any head/mouth or where it would have pulled food to. I am perplexed as to what this is.

Anyone have any ideas??

TitusvileSurfer · 10/10/2007, 07:11 PM

Spaghetti worm, one of Santa's little helpers.

Hormigaquatica · 10/10/2007, 07:16 PM

Yup, tis a terebellid polychaete; aka Spaghetti Worm. Harmless scavengers.

medic29 · 10/10/2007, 07:39 PM

Okay...so nothing to worry about right??

m2434 · 10/10/2007, 07:48 PM

They're good cleaners. If there are lots you might be feeding too much.

medic29 · 10/11/2007, 06:29 AM

hmmm...didn't think about the feeding idea. That is possible. thanks!!!

Paintbug · 10/11/2007, 06:45 PM

thats a cirratulid polychaete or Hair worm, not a terebellid polychaete.

harmless and good to have either way.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php

Hormigaquatica · 10/11/2007, 07:07 PM

Cirratulid or Terebellid- either way it is beneficial to the tank.

But- Paintbug, what part of it leads you to think cirratulid instead? Looking at the photos, there appears to be a number of feeding tentacles like in terebellids, as opposed to the single pair often found in cirratulids. My worm IDing isnt that great, so just wondering if there is some other aspect Im overlooking maybe? Thanks!

Paintbug · 10/11/2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hormigaquatica
Cirratulid or Terebellid- either way it is beneficial to the tank.

But- Paintbug, what part of it leads you to think cirratulid instead? Looking at the photos, there appears to be a number of feeding tentacles like in terebellids, as opposed to the single pair often found in cirratulids. My worm IDing isnt that great, so just wondering if there is some other aspect Im overlooking maybe? Thanks!

terebellids tentacles are white, or pale yellow. they never have dark spots. here are some nice pics of terebellids.
http://scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/nsf/fguide/annelida3.html

here are some nice out of the sand pics of both worms.
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/%7Esweet...itchworms.html

Hormigaquatica · 10/11/2007, 09:48 PM

Interesting (I even have Chuck's site book marked as one of my references already

) I wouldnt have considered color to be a factor at all; thanks for pointing that one out.

10/10/2007, 07:09 PM	#1
medic29 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pesotum, IL Posts: 2,478	Any ideas what this is?? I have no idea what this is... I thought it was just some sort of algae and it was on one side of my tank, down on the sand bed near some live rock. Tonight I noticed that it is in various places near or on the sand bed throughout the tank. I am not sure how to describe it. It is thin, thread-like; orange in color. Tonight we think we saw this move one of the threads and pull some food down to the sandbed. I can't see any head/mouth or where it would have pulled food to. I am perplexed as to what this is. Anyone have any ideas?? __________________ Rick Current Tank Info: 20 gal display w/10 gal sump.

10/10/2007, 07:11 PM	#2
TitusvileSurfer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Titusville, FL Posts: 3,227	Spaghetti worm, one of Santa's little helpers. __________________ The ocean is the pinnacle of reef tanks. Someone up there is keeping up with his PH and Phosphates to.

10/10/2007, 07:16 PM	#3
Hormigaquatica Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,022	Yup, tis a terebellid polychaete; aka Spaghetti Worm. Harmless scavengers. __________________ Reaching up and reaching out and reaching for the random, or whatever will bewilder me. Have Some Personal Accountability Current Tank Info: 240g LPS/Softie Reef

10/10/2007, 07:39 PM	#4
medic29 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pesotum, IL Posts: 2,478	Okay...so nothing to worry about right?? __________________ Rick Current Tank Info: 20 gal display w/10 gal sump.

10/10/2007, 07:48 PM	#5
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	They're good cleaners. If there are lots you might be feeding too much. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman

10/11/2007, 06:29 AM	#6
medic29 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pesotum, IL Posts: 2,478	hmmm...didn't think about the feeding idea. That is possible. thanks!!! __________________ Rick Current Tank Info: 20 gal display w/10 gal sump.

10/11/2007, 06:45 PM	#7
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	thats a cirratulid polychaete or Hair worm, not a terebellid polychaete. harmless and good to have either way. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

10/11/2007, 07:07 PM	#8
Hormigaquatica Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,022	Cirratulid or Terebellid- either way it is beneficial to the tank. But- Paintbug, what part of it leads you to think cirratulid instead? Looking at the photos, there appears to be a number of feeding tentacles like in terebellids, as opposed to the single pair often found in cirratulids. My worm IDing isnt that great, so just wondering if there is some other aspect Im overlooking maybe? Thanks! __________________ Reaching up and reaching out and reaching for the random, or whatever will bewilder me. Have Some Personal Accountability Current Tank Info: 240g LPS/Softie Reef

10/11/2007, 09:48 PM	#10
Hormigaquatica Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,022	Interesting (I even have Chuck's site book marked as one of my references already ) I wouldnt have considered color to be a factor at all; thanks for pointing that one out. __________________ Reaching up and reaching out and reaching for the random, or whatever will bewilder me. Have Some Personal Accountability Current Tank Info: 240g LPS/Softie Reef