Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!!

jmixon12 · 12-10-2008, 08:56 PM

I was just looking at my tank and there were these small worm-looking things coming out of the live rock. The lights had been off for about an hour at the point I saw them. I have not added any new rock to the tank any time recently, but I did add two small damsels a couple days ago. Some of these "worms" were in excess of an inch long so I think there were there already. Also, I used my tweezers and touched them and they darted back VERY QUICKLY. Does anybody know what these are and what should I do, if anything? Thanks for the help.

seafansar · 12-10-2008, 09:52 PM

Can you describe the worm better? Color? Does it have bristles (bristle worm)?

framerguy · 12-10-2008, 10:04 PM

Relax...it is very likely that they were bristle worms. They are quite beneficial as a part of your CUC. See if you can ID them from this link... Worm Hitch Hikers

vdituri · 12-10-2008, 10:27 PM

Check out the hitchhiker id thread already posted.

Could be bristle worms. Pinkish with hairs.
Could be 1 arm of a miniature brittlestar. white or white with dark grey stripes.

Most worms are not a problem.

A picture would definitely help. Hope this helps

ReefGuy69 · 12-10-2008, 10:37 PM

or a peanut worm.

CATALYST · 12-10-2008, 10:58 PM

Or spaghetti worm.

jmixon12 · 12-14-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seafansar

Can you describe the worm better? Color? Does it have bristles (bristle worm)?

I don't see any bristles. They are basically clear or white in color. They have the ability to stretch to what seems more than 3 or 4 times there actual length.

jmixon12 · 12-14-2008, 09:50 PM

Well my lights went out about an hour ago so they should be coming out soon. I will do my best to get a picture and then get it posted. I appreciate the help.

jmixon12 · 12-14-2008, 10:11 PM

Well I just checked the tank and there were about 20 coming out of holes in one of my live rocks. Only one rock though. I didn't see a single worm on any of the other rocks. Anyway, I tried to get a photo and I couldn't get one to come out. I did take the laptop over and checked out that worm hitch hikers guide while looking at the tank. They appear to be peanut worms. It says that not much is known about these worms, but it looked like they were eating stuff off the live rock. Hopefully it was waste they were eating and not good algae. Any ideas if I should do anything if they were peanut worms? Thanks again.

vdituri · 12-14-2008, 10:21 PM

Peanut worms are good.
No worries.

jmixon12 · 12-14-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdituri

Peanut worms are good.
No worries.

Thanks for the help.

12-10-2008, 08:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
jmixon12 Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! I was just looking at my tank and there were these small worm-looking things coming out of the live rock. The lights had been off for about an hour at the point I saw them. I have not added any new rock to the tank any time recently, but I did add two small damsels a couple days ago. Some of these "worms" were in excess of an inch long so I think there were there already. Also, I used my tweezers and touched them and they darted back VERY QUICKLY. Does anybody know what these are and what should I do, if anything? Thanks for the help.

12-10-2008, 09:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
seafansar Reef Lobster Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Deltona, FL Posts: 1,608 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! Can you describe the worm better? Color? Does it have bristles (bristle worm)? __________________ -Sara SW since Jan. '08 150 gallon SPS reef 45 gallon cube 150 tank thread 45 cube thread My Reefnook

12-10-2008, 10:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! Relax...it is very likely that they were bristle worms. They are quite beneficial as a part of your CUC. See if you can ID them from this link... Worm Hitch Hikers __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

12-10-2008, 10:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 6,244 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! Check out the hitchhiker id thread already posted. Could be bristle worms. Pinkish with hairs. Could be 1 arm of a miniature brittlestar. white or white with dark grey stripes. Most worms are not a problem. A picture would definitely help. Hope this helps __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

12-10-2008, 10:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
ReefGuy69 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 934 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! or a peanut worm. __________________ Dennis ________ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...journal-3.html 55gal AGA w/ built in overflow 15 gal acrylic DIY sump/fuge 75lbs Fiji Live Rock 45lbs of Live Sand 1-1/2inch (1) 96 watt Super Blue Actinic Power Compact (2) 96 Watt 10,000k Power Compacts (2) Ebo Jager 200 watt heaters Seaclone 150 Skimmer (2) Hagen 50's Power Heads for flow (2) Hagen 70's Power Heads for flow (1) Hagen 70 Return Pump DIY ATO system (5 Gal) Algae Scrubber w/(4) 9watt 67k Bulbs TLF 150 Phosban Reactor 12X turnover rate 1 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Firefish, 1 Blue Hippo Tang, 1 Black and White Goby, Neon Green Hairy Mushrooms, Red Zoanthus Polyps, Sand Sifting Starfish, Emerald Crab, Various Snails and Hermits

12-10-2008, 10:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
CATALYST Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,442 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! Or spaghetti worm. __________________ _.:Bonni:._

12-14-2008, 09:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
jmixon12 Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! Well my lights went out about an hour ago so they should be coming out soon. I will do my best to get a picture and then get it posted. I appreciate the help.

12-14-2008, 10:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
jmixon12 Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! Well I just checked the tank and there were about 20 coming out of holes in one of my live rocks. Only one rock though. I didn't see a single worm on any of the other rocks. Anyway, I tried to get a photo and I couldn't get one to come out. I did take the laptop over and checked out that worm hitch hikers guide while looking at the tank. They appear to be peanut worms. It says that not much is known about these worms, but it looked like they were eating stuff off the live rock. Hopefully it was waste they were eating and not good algae. Any ideas if I should do anything if they were peanut worms? Thanks again.

12-14-2008, 10:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 6,244 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Worm-looking things - HELP ME!!! Peanut worms are good. No worries. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

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