long skinny worm

[nanogirl]

I recently set up a 24 gal aquapod and today after work when I got home I noticed coming out from my live rock in one of the caves a long skinny worm, it did not appear to have any hairs of any kind I was unable to get any pictures because of the location but the part out of the rock was about 2-2/12 inches long light brown with dark brown rings up the whole worm, when a loud noise happend it retracted into the hole again but almost seemed as though it retracted into itself (if that makes any sense) also from one of the old posts i also have a large amount of hydroid jellyfish, are these going to cause a problem? if so how do I rid my tank of them? and not meaning to be a pain with the questions but with Aiptasia does it if touched suck into the rock? I have found somthing that has a brown mushroom like base and clear tenticles coming from the top, when i touch it the tenticles retract but the mushroom like base remains, I also noticed at night the top part of the mushroom closes like a flower pod with the translucent tenticles sticking out the top, Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nanogirl]

Okay its confirmed, just shined a flashlight on the worm and it did indeed retracts into itself, pretty creepy looking I must add

 

[Len]

:welcome:

Hi nanogirl. Is the worm thick? It sounds to me like it is a Peanut Worm (Sipunculids). Do a google image search for Sipunculids and let me know if that is what it is. When they contract portions of their body like an accordian, it might look like dark rings. Yup, they contract into themlves (again, like an accordian or a sock inverting itself). There are many types of them, and they are harmless other then slowly boring holes in your rock. It might also be one of the thousands of nematod worm species. It's something I wouldn't worry too much about. If it's small, many fish like pseudochormis and various wrasses will readily eat these types of worms if you need to control/remove it.

Hydroids bloom and die out on their own. Wait a while and it will go away.

Usually, Aiptasia will fully retract into the rock and you won't be able to see its base. You probably have a polyp of another sort, possibly Anemonia. I would rid myself of these just to be safe. Polyps of all sorts can take over tanks and sting corals.

Hope that helps, and hope to see you around often 8)

 

[Len]

Okay its confirmed, just shined a flashlight on the worm and it did indeed retracts into itself, pretty creepy looking I must add

I'm 99.99 percent sure you have a Peanut Worm then You can let it live or remove it. They have a leathery skin (if you dare to touch it).

 

[nanogirl]

thanks for the fast response Len, no looks nothing like a peanut worm, not at all leathery, its very thin like speggetti almost like a cross between a milipeed and a leg of a tiger stripe starfish with no hairs or legs that retracts into itself

 

[nanogirl]

since my tank is only a little over a week old and Im new to actually having a salt water tank myself, although not new to info and how to take care of it, Im sure you all will be hearing alot from me so THANKS in advance for all the help

 

[Len]

Hmmm. Could be a Bonellid worm or perhaps a Annelids (segmented worms). Segmented smooth worms are usually leeches that should be removed. If you see more then one spaghetti-like worm in the area, it might be the tentacles of a Spaghetti Worm

 

[Charlesr1958]

See if I have it shown within my hitch hiker page. Descriptions are awfull hard to go by.

Worm Hitch Hikers

Chuck

 

[nanogirl]

checked out your worm site and it looked mostly like the family of eunicids but when i look at it i dont see any legs or anything just a smooth body that retracts within itself but it also resembles Eusyllinae
tomorrow after work I'll see if i can get it out of the rock and take a pic

 

[nanogirl]

well this is a very elusive worm, I have not been able to catch it, it goes right back into the rock.

 

[Charlesr1958]

If it is a eunicid, they typicaly build tunnels or tubes out of small rocks and their mucus leading out of their main rock tunnel and get to be quite large specimens. Hopefully you can get it out of the rock for ID or at the least a good photo of its head area. If you wish to remove it from the rock, the best way I have found is to take the rock out of the tank and drip some seltzer water into its hole, which usualy drives it crazy and forces it out.

Chuck

 

[nanogirl]

well tried the seltzer water today... it didnt work he's still in his hole, but since I tried he has not made an apperance, any other ideas?? they say if you name somthing in a tank it dies haha maybe that will work

 

[Charlesr1958]

Must be one tough little bugger, that usualy always drives them crazy. But I guess if its not causing any damage, it might be worth just leaving it.

Chuck