Critter ID Please

mckeec · 02/05/2006, 01:24 PM

These came in on a coral and they are starting to multiply. They form white spirl cones and have antena that extend. They seem to cause a mucousy web around them. This disturbs me. Are these a problem? I am working with my flow to remove the webing that forms.

Avi · 02/05/2006, 02:20 PM

Are they motile? Could you post a bigger photo?

AEALOVESHERGIRLS · 02/05/2006, 03:50 PM

Looks like a pineapple sponge. Harmless filter feeder.

Paintbug · 02/06/2006, 09:02 AM

looking at the pic i would say diffinatly not a pineapple sponge. they are not fuzzy at all. from the description, the sound like Spirorbid Worms. but the pic is not that great. how big are these things?

mckeec · 02/06/2006, 09:10 AM

They do not move and form a white spirl shaped shell. The lower picture left hand corner is the cone of a turbo snail. Their shell is about 3/8" diameter. They are a type of worm that forms a calcium shell, but I have never seen one leave the shell. Don't think they can. The white thing in the pics are the shells and you can see their white antena protruding.

mckeec · 02/06/2006, 09:17 AM

Don't think they are Spirorbid Worms. Look too big to me. I have Spirorbid Worms on the wall of my fuge and they are much smaller.

Paintbug · 02/06/2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mckeec
Don't think they are Spirorbid Worms. Look too big to me. I have Spirorbid Worms on the wall of my fuge and they are much smaller.

Spirorbid Worms can a long time in the wild. biologist have seen them upto 40 years old in the wild. so they could diffidently grow that big. and its possible that he has some old ones that hitchhiked on the LR.

but then theres the webs that he sees. that sounds like Vermetid Snails. then looking at the pics you can see 2 tenticles. that could be Spionidae or Chaetopteridae worms

any chance of a better, closer pic?

mckeec · 02/06/2006, 10:10 AM

The ones in the photos have appeared in the last month or so. They were not always there. They have attached and grown to this size in a relatively short period of time.

Paintbug · 02/06/2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mckeec
The ones in the photos have appeared in the last month or so. They were not always there. They have attached and grown to this size in a relatively short period of time.

that rules out Spirorbid Worms then. dont think they can grow that fast

i edited my last post re-read it.

02/05/2006, 01:24 PM	#1
mckeec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 302	Critter ID Please These came in on a coral and they are starting to multiply. They form white spirl cones and have antena that extend. They seem to cause a mucousy web around them. This disturbs me. Are these a problem? I am working with my flow to remove the webing that forms.

02/05/2006, 02:20 PM	#2
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Are they motile? Could you post a bigger photo? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

02/05/2006, 03:50 PM	#3
AEALOVESHERGIRLS Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,514	Looks like a pineapple sponge. Harmless filter feeder. __________________ Mom of three beautiful girls, Irish dance teacher and Proud Gaelic speaker! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Sumpless

02/06/2006, 09:02 AM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	looking at the pic i would say diffinatly not a pineapple sponge. they are not fuzzy at all. from the description, the sound like Spirorbid Worms. but the pic is not that great. how big are these things? __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

02/06/2006, 09:10 AM	#5
mckeec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 302	They do not move and form a white spirl shaped shell. The lower picture left hand corner is the cone of a turbo snail. Their shell is about 3/8" diameter. They are a type of worm that forms a calcium shell, but I have never seen one leave the shell. Don't think they can. The white thing in the pics are the shells and you can see their white antena protruding.

02/06/2006, 09:17 AM	#6
mckeec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 302	Don't think they are Spirorbid Worms. Look too big to me. I have Spirorbid Worms on the wall of my fuge and they are much smaller.

02/06/2006, 10:10 AM	#8
mckeec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 302	The ones in the photos have appeared in the last month or so. They were not always there. They have attached and grown to this size in a relatively short period of time.