Critter ID

The Saltwater Kid · 08/14/2006, 09:50 AM

I have two critters I need help IDing. The first: All i see are long super thin tendrils coming out of my live rock on the bottom near the sand bed. There are about 3 tendrils coming from the same place as far as i can tell, each tendril is pulling up small pieces of my sandbed and stacking it in a pile near the rock or sometimes pulling up super small pieces into a hole in the rock. Whatever it is looks like it's fishing for sand particles. The second: I just saw this last night coming out of one of my live rocks. It looks like a worm, it had alternating light and dark bands and as soon as i shown a light on it it retracted/recoiled into the rock. The part i saw was about 1 1/2" long. What are either/both of these things and are they reef-safe (won't bother corals OR fish & inverts)? Sorry, no pictures...the first is simply too thin to come out and the second is very quick to retract when it senses any light.

theatrus · 08/14/2006, 09:52 AM

First one is a spaghetti worm or other similar worm (many varieties).

The second one, is it spiny? It may be a small star.

Check out: http://melevsreef.com/id/

Travis L. Stevens · 08/14/2006, 10:28 AM

The first sounds like a Spinonid worm. It could be many other worms as well. All of which are going to be fine for your tank.

The latter one, I'm not sure. It could be a Peanut Worm. Most likely this guy is also good for your tank.

The Saltwater Kid · 08/14/2006, 11:09 AM

Second one is not spiny, I do have a baby striped brittle star so I know the difference...it looked smooth.

Paintbug · 08/14/2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis L. Stevens
The first sounds like a Spinonid worm. It could be many other worms as well. All of which are going to be fine for your tank.

The latter one, I'm not sure. It could be a Peanut Worm. Most likely this guy is also good for your tank.

agreed 100% on both!

Travis L. Stevens · 08/14/2006, 01:46 PM

It's not very often that something is actually bad for your tank. Each and every critter has a time and place in our systems.

08/14/2006, 09:50 AM	#1
The Saltwater Kid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Barre, VT Posts: 2,586	Critter ID I have two critters I need help IDing. The first: All i see are long super thin tendrils coming out of my live rock on the bottom near the sand bed. There are about 3 tendrils coming from the same place as far as i can tell, each tendril is pulling up small pieces of my sandbed and stacking it in a pile near the rock or sometimes pulling up super small pieces into a hole in the rock. Whatever it is looks like it's fishing for sand particles. The second: I just saw this last night coming out of one of my live rocks. It looks like a worm, it had alternating light and dark bands and as soon as i shown a light on it it retracted/recoiled into the rock. The part i saw was about 1 1/2" long. What are either/both of these things and are they reef-safe (won't bother corals OR fish & inverts)? Sorry, no pictures...the first is simply too thin to come out and the second is very quick to retract when it senses any light. __________________ Oceanic Biocube 14g Nano Tank w/middle chamber refugium mod 2 Ecoxotic Power Pro LED Modules (1 - 12K/Royal Blue combo, 1 - Royal Blue) MaxiJet 900 return, VorTech MP10 circulation Livestock: Higher End Z's & P's, few mushrooms, Aussie Duncan, Maxi Mini Carpet Anemone

08/14/2006, 09:52 AM	#2
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	First one is a spaghetti worm or other similar worm (many varieties). The second one, is it spiny? It may be a small star. Check out: http://melevsreef.com/id/ __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

08/14/2006, 10:28 AM	#3
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	The first sounds like a Spinonid worm. It could be many other worms as well. All of which are going to be fine for your tank. The latter one, I'm not sure. It could be a Peanut Worm. Most likely this guy is also good for your tank. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/14/2006, 11:09 AM	#4
The Saltwater Kid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Barre, VT Posts: 2,586	Second one is not spiny, I do have a baby striped brittle star so I know the difference...it looked smooth. __________________ Oceanic Biocube 14g Nano Tank w/middle chamber refugium mod 2 Ecoxotic Power Pro LED Modules (1 - 12K/Royal Blue combo, 1 - Royal Blue) MaxiJet 900 return, VorTech MP10 circulation Livestock: Higher End Z's & P's, few mushrooms, Aussie Duncan, Maxi Mini Carpet Anemone

08/14/2006, 01:46 PM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It's not very often that something is actually bad for your tank. Each and every critter has a time and place in our systems. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront