What IS this??

sigshane · 06/20/2011, 02:25 PM

Hey guys, and thanks in advance for any help.

I have a 37-gallon saltwater tank, with a few large pieces of live rock, and some smallish fish. I have had overall general success so far. Had a small bout of red algae, took care of that. Large diatom outbreak, took care of that also.

I have some curious "beings" in the tank that I am not so familiar with that I will share with the group today, in hopes of identifying as friend or foe. Pics will follow. (Let me apologize in advance for the photo quality - cellphone camera with no flash taking pictures of a box of water!)

Some whitish looking growth, with tube-like openings

Long, thin "feelers", which at first I thought were my daughters' long hair that got in the water, but they are banded-colored, and they move!!

This one I can only describe as a small "nipple-shaped" critter, that sends out a very long hair-sized, well, hair, then when the hair is coated with particles, it reels it in. Weird!!!

Thanks again!

Sugar Magnolia · 06/20/2011, 02:41 PM

First one I can't tell. Second one is a terebellid worm - harmless. Third one is a vermetid snail - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

greech · 06/20/2011, 02:52 PM

Not sure about #1 but 2 and 3 are likely worms and should not pose a threat. #1 could also be a tube worm of some kind.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/index.php

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html

I call the worm in pic#2 a sand castle worm but that's just what I call them

. The worm is actually way down in a tube and the 2 tentacles you see come out to pull in sand (which it adds to its tube) or food.

Edit: Sugar Magnoilia has a much better ID for you

.

sigshane · 06/20/2011, 02:52 PM

Ok, thanks a lot!

So further reading suggests that the terebellid worm is a good on the good|bad scale. And the other one getting a 'harmless' grade is okay by me!

The first one, if I may be extremely coarse, looks like a wad of what Spider Man would fling at his enemies, with one or more tubes sticking out. it is the color of - and looks a lot like, well....PLEASE pardon the comparison..."male sexual excretion".

There. I said it.

Please direct flamethrowers at other than my face.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/20/2011, 03:18 PM

It's more than lieky a sponge if it has syphons sticking out of it. Harmless.

06/20/2011, 02:52 PM	#3
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	Not sure about #1 but 2 and 3 are likely worms and should not pose a threat. #1 could also be a tube worm of some kind. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/index.php http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html I call the worm in pic#2 a sand castle worm but that's just what I call them . The worm is actually way down in a tube and the 2 tentacles you see come out to pull in sand (which it adds to its tube) or food. Edit: Sugar Magnoilia has a much better ID for you . __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

06/20/2011, 02:52 PM	#4
sigshane Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Grovetown, GA ('burb of Augusta) Posts: 20	Ok, thanks a lot! So further reading suggests that the terebellid worm is a good on the good\|bad scale. And the other one getting a 'harmless' grade is okay by me! The first one, if I may be extremely coarse, looks like a wad of what Spider Man would fling at his enemies, with one or more tubes sticking out. it is the color of - and looks a lot like, well....PLEASE pardon the comparison..."male sexual excretion". There. I said it. Please direct flamethrowers at other than my face. __________________ Shane "The sea refuses no river" - Pete Townsend Current Tank Info: 65 gallon FOWLR

06/20/2011, 03:18 PM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	It's more than lieky a sponge if it has syphons sticking out of it. Harmless. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/20/2011, 02:25 PM	#1
sigshane Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Grovetown, GA ('burb of Augusta) Posts: 20	What IS this?? Hey guys, and thanks in advance for any help. I have a 37-gallon saltwater tank, with a few large pieces of live rock, and some smallish fish. I have had overall general success so far. Had a small bout of red algae, took care of that. Large diatom outbreak, took care of that also. I have some curious "beings" in the tank that I am not so familiar with that I will share with the group today, in hopes of identifying as friend or foe. Pics will follow. (Let me apologize in advance for the photo quality - cellphone camera with no flash taking pictures of a box of water!) Some whitish looking growth, with tube-like openings Long, thin "feelers", which at first I thought were my daughters' long hair that got in the water, but they are banded-colored, and they move!! This one I can only describe as a small "nipple-shaped" critter, that sends out a very long hair-sized, well, hair, then when the hair is coated with particles, it reels it in. Weird!!! Thanks again! __________________ Shane "The sea refuses no river" - Pete Townsend Current Tank Info: 65 gallon FOWLR Last edited by sigshane; 06/20/2011 at 02:27 PM. Reason: My tank is a 37-gallon, NOT a 47-gallon! Tanks do not GROW!!!!! :-P

06/20/2011, 02:41 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	First one I can't tell. Second one is a terebellid worm - harmless. Third one is a vermetid snail - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.