Saw this peeking out of rock, what is it?

marnol · 02/04/2010, 07:00 PM

Its about as big around as a sharpie pen. It was out and "open", then it closed up and sunk back into the rock.

images attached.

dudley moray · 02/04/2010, 07:03 PM

can you get a pic of it "open"?
it some kind of worm i'm guessing but i can't say for sure without some more pics
perhaps a peanut worm
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-...&q=peanut+worm

marnol · 02/04/2010, 07:30 PM

the first picture is "open". Then it retracted like in the second picture. now it is even skinnier.

dudley moray · 02/04/2010, 07:37 PM

check that link there are pics of a peanut worm i think thats what you have they are not harmful from what i've heard

marnol · 02/04/2010, 07:39 PM

looking at the other pics, yeah, I think you are right. Peanut worm. The only thing is, that I took those pics after my lights have been on for a couple of hours. I thought peanut worms didnt like the lights.

dudley moray · 02/04/2010, 07:42 PM

i think that 's why they hide in the rocks !

waxy · 02/04/2010, 08:26 PM

Ohhh it's so cute!

Can I have it? LOL

kingfisher62 · 02/04/2010, 08:54 PM

Peanut worm was my guess too, if it is , it is beneficial!

warnutts · 02/05/2010, 01:40 AM

+1 peanut worm let us know if u catch it

Texxxx · 02/05/2010, 07:08 AM

Peanut Worm
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rs/index.php

marnol · 02/05/2010, 08:28 PM

catch it!? ha!

What's really wierd is that now it is nowhere to be seen in that hole. Last night I waited for a couple hours after lights out and took a flash light to check it out and there was nothing there.

Are peanut worms usually that big? I also have a bunch of smaller worms that come out at night that are about as big around as a toothpick. They stretch out from the rock and poke around in the sand. I thought these were peanut worms. The thing I took a picture of was about as big around as a sharpie marker. Big difference in size.

rossta · 02/06/2010, 02:28 AM

Peanut Worms, AKA "Fat In-keeper Worms" don't need to be "out" to get what they need. They are filter feeders that love to live in little caves. Often in wild reefs they live in the sand and have one end just near the surface to get food and the other sitting out to excrete their, well... excrement. So, they don't need to ever show themselves because their bodies are usually hidden when they are doing well. That's why they are rarely seen, they don't often live in rocks because rocks rarely provide the cave they need. Consider yourself lucky, and at the envy of any marine biologist.

02/04/2010, 07:03 PM	#2
dudley moray sisternofuselessknowledge Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: orillia ontario Posts: 795	can you get a pic of it "open"? it some kind of worm i'm guessing but i can't say for sure without some more pics perhaps a peanut worm http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-...&q=peanut+worm __________________ We urge hobbyists to develop a good 'BS' detector that will allow you to question information presented to you without any experimental evidence to support it. chris Current Tank Info: 90 gal south pacific biotope 40 gal sump/fuge ,65 gal rebuilding

02/04/2010, 07:37 PM	#4
dudley moray sisternofuselessknowledge Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: orillia ontario Posts: 795	check that link there are pics of a peanut worm i think thats what you have they are not harmful from what i've heard __________________ We urge hobbyists to develop a good 'BS' detector that will allow you to question information presented to you without any experimental evidence to support it. chris Current Tank Info: 90 gal south pacific biotope 40 gal sump/fuge ,65 gal rebuilding

02/04/2010, 07:42 PM	#6
dudley moray sisternofuselessknowledge Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: orillia ontario Posts: 795	i think that 's why they hide in the rocks ! __________________ We urge hobbyists to develop a good 'BS' detector that will allow you to question information presented to you without any experimental evidence to support it. chris Current Tank Info: 90 gal south pacific biotope 40 gal sump/fuge ,65 gal rebuilding

02/04/2010, 08:54 PM	#8
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	Peanut worm was my guess too, if it is , it is beneficial! __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

02/05/2010, 07:08 AM	#10
Texxxx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 172	Peanut Worm http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rs/index.php __________________ Tank: 125gal money pit Current Tank Info: 125gal, 55 sump with fug, 3x250MH, 2x60" VHO, Euro-Reef RC250 skimmer, Ca reactor, ATO Kalk, 2500gph closed loop

02/04/2010, 07:30 PM	#3
marnol Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: College Station, Texas Posts: 51	the first picture is "open". Then it retracted like in the second picture. now it is even skinnier.

02/04/2010, 07:39 PM	#5
marnol Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: College Station, Texas Posts: 51	looking at the other pics, yeah, I think you are right. Peanut worm. The only thing is, that I took those pics after my lights have been on for a couple of hours. I thought peanut worms didnt like the lights.

02/04/2010, 08:26 PM	#7
waxy Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jan Sose, CA Posts: 972	Ohhh it's so cute! Can I have it? LOL

02/05/2010, 01:40 AM	#9
warnutts Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 156	+1 peanut worm let us know if u catch it

02/05/2010, 08:28 PM	#11
marnol Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: College Station, Texas Posts: 51	catch it!? ha! What's really wierd is that now it is nowhere to be seen in that hole. Last night I waited for a couple hours after lights out and took a flash light to check it out and there was nothing there. Are peanut worms usually that big? I also have a bunch of smaller worms that come out at night that are about as big around as a toothpick. They stretch out from the rock and poke around in the sand. I thought these were peanut worms. The thing I took a picture of was about as big around as a sharpie marker. Big difference in size.

02/06/2010, 02:28 AM	#12
rossta Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 3	Don't have to be out to get what they need Peanut Worms, AKA "Fat In-keeper Worms" don't need to be "out" to get what they need. They are filter feeders that love to live in little caves. Often in wild reefs they live in the sand and have one end just near the surface to get food and the other sitting out to excrete their, well... excrement. So, they don't need to ever show themselves because their bodies are usually hidden when they are doing well. That's why they are rarely seen, they don't often live in rocks because rocks rarely provide the cave they need. Consider yourself lucky, and at the envy of any marine biologist. __________________ After more than two years, I'm ready to start stocking my tank with corals. Where do I begin? Current Tank Info: 55G glass, 70lbs live rock, Current 2x96 lighting