tiny worms

skrappie1 · 09/16/2006, 07:23 PM

Was wondering if anyone could help me. I have what looks like a cluster of tiny little brown worms living in my substrate, in a clump, doesn't look like bristle worms, anyone have any ideas?

chrismunn · 09/16/2006, 07:30 PM

do they just come out of the sand and feel around the sandbed? tiny (1\2"+-) white worms? if so, spaghetti worms. harmless, very good to have actually

chrismunn · 09/16/2006, 07:31 PM

oh, i just realized that you said "brown" worms....my bad. i have no idea?

skrappie1 · 09/16/2006, 07:35 PM

yeah they are brown, not sure whey they would pop up now, tanks has been set up for quite some time and haven't added anything recently

Paintbug · 09/17/2006, 10:11 AM

Spaghetti worms are not only white, they come in many colors

. from the description thats what i would think it is as well. heres a pic of one out of the sand.

dc · 09/17/2006, 10:47 AM

I bealieve spaghetti worms are only white, and stationary. Cirratulid(hare worms) are colored and able to move. And much more common in our tanks. Although they are sold as spaghetti worms. Mine vary from yellow to red.

These are spaghetti worms at the Seattle Aquarium

Paintbug · 09/17/2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dc
I bealieve spaghetti worms are only white, and stationary. Cirratulid(hare worms) are colored and able to move. And much more common in our tanks. Although they are sold as spaghetti worms. Mine vary from yellow to red.

well like alot of people in the hobby, i mistakenly call both cirratulids and terebellids spaghetti worms. the worm in the pic i posted is a cirratulid. one day i will remember theres a difference

.

heres an article on both.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php

dc · 09/17/2006, 12:32 PM

LOL, I'm just working on spelling them right.

They sell cirratulids as spaghetti worms so it's sometimes hard to realize they aren't the same thing.

skrappie1 · 09/17/2006, 06:30 PM

so if they are brown is that good, they don't look like the pic above, no rocky stalk but they look like what is at the bottom of the stalk, bunch of them and they can stretch pretty far

Paintbug · 09/17/2006, 08:18 PM

the brownish/orange worm in the substrate of this pic is a Cirratulid AKA hair worm

(right DC?)

kass03 · 09/17/2006, 08:36 PM

I guess you learn something new ever day lol.

I have both kinds and always thought they were both spaghetti worms.

kass

09/16/2006, 07:23 PM	#1
skrappie1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: coloma, michigan Posts: 125	tiny worms Was wondering if anyone could help me. I have what looks like a cluster of tiny little brown worms living in my substrate, in a clump, doesn't look like bristle worms, anyone have any ideas?

09/16/2006, 07:30 PM	#2
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	do they just come out of the sand and feel around the sandbed? tiny (1\2"+-) white worms? if so, spaghetti worms. harmless, very good to have actually __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

09/16/2006, 07:31 PM	#3
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	oh, i just realized that you said "brown" worms....my bad. i have no idea? __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

09/17/2006, 10:11 AM	#5
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	Spaghetti worms are not only white, they come in many colors . from the description thats what i would think it is as well. heres a pic of one out of the sand. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

09/17/2006, 10:47 AM	#6
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	I bealieve spaghetti worms are only white, and stationary. Cirratulid(hare worms) are colored and able to move. And much more common in our tanks. Although they are sold as spaghetti worms. Mine vary from yellow to red. These are spaghetti worms at the Seattle Aquarium __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/16/2006, 07:35 PM	#4
skrappie1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: coloma, michigan Posts: 125	yeah they are brown, not sure whey they would pop up now, tanks has been set up for quite some time and haven't added anything recently

09/17/2006, 12:32 PM	#8
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	LOL, I'm just working on spelling them right. They sell cirratulids as spaghetti worms so it's sometimes hard to realize they aren't the same thing. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/17/2006, 06:30 PM	#9
skrappie1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: coloma, michigan Posts: 125	so if they are brown is that good, they don't look like the pic above, no rocky stalk but they look like what is at the bottom of the stalk, bunch of them and they can stretch pretty far

09/17/2006, 08:18 PM	#10
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	the brownish/orange worm in the substrate of this pic is a Cirratulid AKA hair worm (right DC?) __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

09/17/2006, 08:36 PM	#11
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	I guess you learn something new ever day lol. I have both kinds and always thought they were both spaghetti worms. kass