Critter Question

BradMugs · 02/06/2009, 11:22 PM

I've been watching some new live rock I picked up. This stuff is really alive, covered with all kinds of little creatures, most identifiable but there are some things I have no idea.

The one I'm really stuck with is string. Well it looks like string, I've got two colors, orange and white. Up to 2" long moving about the rock, multiple strans from a single hole in the rock. Are these worms or legs or? they appear to be either sticky or have suction cups on them (way to small to see) as they are carring things along with them. One end is hole bound the other is just moving about looking for stuff to eat ( at least that is what I'd be doing).
Lots of other stuff going on, saw some dirt being pushed out of a hole, never saw the pusher.

Thanks,

Brad

the2ofus · 02/06/2009, 11:29 PM

Brad,

I believe they are a type of worm or snail, the strings are how they feed.
Orange may be some micro brittle stars..
Take a look after lights out, you might see some quarter size stars in there

Enjoy!

dwd5813 · 02/06/2009, 11:52 PM

I've got some kind of worm in my tank too that is about the diameter of a strand of hair and is bristled and striped, black and white. no idea what it is but it seems to attach itself inside rocks and send arms out into the current.

velfamily · 02/07/2009, 10:47 AM

i'm no expert, but sounds just like my brittle starfish.... they do the same thing. although mine are solid white

bob1968 · 02/07/2009, 10:56 AM

spaghetti worm ?

mustang51js · 02/07/2009, 12:06 PM

pic

Whys · 02/07/2009, 12:36 PM

I agree with bob. Spaghetti worm. I have a few in my liverock as well.

Whys · 02/07/2009, 12:38 PM

I'm referring to the white string. The orange string could be a bristle worm or baby brittle star, but brittle arms are usually more brown, so I'm gonna say bristle.

BradMugs · 02/07/2009, 01:57 PM

I'm trying for a picture - need to play with it more to get it sharp. Did get up after lights out and the tank was full of what look like little shrimp (OK not full but enough to make it hard not to see them everywhere).

A lot of these living strings they look more like a worm as they seem to stretch as they go out and pull back (get thicker) when they come back, not like a semi rigid arm of a star.

I'll keep you up to date and thanks,

Brad

Whys · 02/07/2009, 02:25 PM

Oh... I know what you're talking about. I see them tracing up and down my glass. Typically sleep in the sandbed. Segmented worm of some kind. Skitters backwards a lot. I don't actually know what those are. Never seen them get mentioned here before. I'm curious to see if anyone throws out a name. I bet Greenbean knows.

dwd5813 · 02/07/2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whys
Oh... I know what you're talking about. I see them tracing up and down my glass. Typically sleep in the sandbed. Segmented worm of some kind. Skitters backwards a lot. I don't actually know what those are. Never seen them get mentioned here before. I'm curious to see if anyone throws out a name. I bet Greenbean knows.

the ones i'm talking about sound like what you just described. i was reminded of a string of cells all stuck together looking at it.

BradMugs · 02/07/2009, 10:54 PM

OK, the strange thing about mine are that there are many (3-4-5) strings coming out of the same spot on the rocks. That is why I thought they were from a star fish.
What you are talking about sounds like individual worms - which mine may be but multiple worms in one hole.

I don't know.

Brad

dwd5813 · 02/07/2009, 11:22 PM

actually i've just been looking up spaghetti worms and that sounds a lot like what i have. what i read is that the worm will reside in holes or crevices in rocks and send these hairlike appendages out in search of food, retracting them when a threat appears or a food item is reached.

Whys · 02/08/2009, 10:20 AM

Okay, sounds more like a spaghetti worm again. They can have multiples. Mine don't look anything like a star arm. Too narrow, long, and white.

There is another worm I see from time to time that moves about entirely exposed and obviously a worm. It is also white but skitters backwards a lot in an accordion fashion. I still wish someone would tell me what they are. Anyway, I think you have your answer, and I digress.

BradMugs · 02/08/2009, 09:14 PM

Spaghetti worm - that's it, based on what I was able to Google. They can grow up to a few feet and their tenticles, which we are seeing, are longer than their bodies.

Thanks

Brad

02/06/2009, 11:22 PM	#1
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Critter Question I've been watching some new live rock I picked up. This stuff is really alive, covered with all kinds of little creatures, most identifiable but there are some things I have no idea. The one I'm really stuck with is string. Well it looks like string, I've got two colors, orange and white. Up to 2" long moving about the rock, multiple strans from a single hole in the rock. Are these worms or legs or? they appear to be either sticky or have suction cups on them (way to small to see) as they are carring things along with them. One end is hole bound the other is just moving about looking for stuff to eat ( at least that is what I'd be doing). Lots of other stuff going on, saw some dirt being pushed out of a hole, never saw the pusher. Thanks, Brad

02/06/2009, 11:29 PM	#2
the2ofus Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clarion, PA Posts: 725	Brad, I believe they are a type of worm or snail, the strings are how they feed. Orange may be some micro brittle stars.. Take a look after lights out, you might see some quarter size stars in there Enjoy! __________________ ~Matt & Kim~ Current Tank Info: 75 gal reef. w/ 30gal. sump/refugium,g-2 skimmer, t-5 lighting

02/06/2009, 11:52 PM	#3
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	I've got some kind of worm in my tank too that is about the diameter of a strand of hair and is bristled and striped, black and white. no idea what it is but it seems to attach itself inside rocks and send arms out into the current. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

02/07/2009, 12:06 PM	#6
mustang51js Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: haskell, n.j. Posts: 593	pic __________________ george 50g corner reef yellow tang Current Tank Info: temp 90g reef,2 4bulb t5 lights-

02/07/2009, 11:22 PM	#13
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	actually i've just been looking up spaghetti worms and that sounds a lot like what i have. what i read is that the worm will reside in holes or crevices in rocks and send these hairlike appendages out in search of food, retracting them when a threat appears or a food item is reached. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

02/07/2009, 10:47 AM	#4
velfamily Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 168	i'm no expert, but sounds just like my brittle starfish.... they do the same thing. although mine are solid white

02/07/2009, 10:56 AM	#5
bob1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bristol,pa. Posts: 303	spaghetti worm ?

02/07/2009, 12:36 PM	#7
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	I agree with bob. Spaghetti worm. I have a few in my liverock as well.

02/07/2009, 12:38 PM	#8
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	I'm referring to the white string. The orange string could be a bristle worm or baby brittle star, but brittle arms are usually more brown, so I'm gonna say bristle.

02/07/2009, 01:57 PM	#9
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	I'm trying for a picture - need to play with it more to get it sharp. Did get up after lights out and the tank was full of what look like little shrimp (OK not full but enough to make it hard not to see them everywhere). A lot of these living strings they look more like a worm as they seem to stretch as they go out and pull back (get thicker) when they come back, not like a semi rigid arm of a star. I'll keep you up to date and thanks, Brad

02/07/2009, 02:25 PM	#10
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Oh... I know what you're talking about. I see them tracing up and down my glass. Typically sleep in the sandbed. Segmented worm of some kind. Skitters backwards a lot. I don't actually know what those are. Never seen them get mentioned here before. I'm curious to see if anyone throws out a name. I bet Greenbean knows.

02/07/2009, 10:54 PM	#12
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	OK, the strange thing about mine are that there are many (3-4-5) strings coming out of the same spot on the rocks. That is why I thought they were from a star fish. What you are talking about sounds like individual worms - which mine may be but multiple worms in one hole. I don't know. Brad

02/08/2009, 10:20 AM	#14
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Okay, sounds more like a spaghetti worm again. They can have multiples. Mine don't look anything like a star arm. Too narrow, long, and white. There is another worm I see from time to time that moves about entirely exposed and obviously a worm. It is also white but skitters backwards a lot in an accordion fashion. I still wish someone would tell me what they are. Anyway, I think you have your answer, and I digress.

02/08/2009, 09:14 PM	#15
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Spaghetti worm - that's it, based on what I was able to Google. They can grow up to a few feet and their tenticles, which we are seeing, are longer than their bodies. Thanks Brad