Possible worm ID

[Kasey]

Two of these were side-by-side on a piece of Florida live rock.

Spongy to the touch. Had a little hole that would open and close (feeding?) and the whole structure could be seen slightly "pulsing" on occasion.

On day 6, my nitrite/nitrate levels started to rise. The left critter shriveled up and turned hairy white.

Today I attempted to remove the dead item and I "unsheathed" it!

After about 10 minutes it was no longer erect and the top half of it was clear.

Not sure if the damsels picked at it, as I have seen them occasionally pluck at the rocks.

The dead one was the larger of the two, but the right one still appears to be living.

Didn't see a similar photo in the Hitchhikers Guide, so thought I'd ask.

 

[Kasey]

Today the left critter is completely gone.

I happened to spot a worm on the top of the sand bed and think it might be what was on the rock?

Crappy photos, but the worm (i believe) is a tan/pink color. Has a reddish stripe all the way down its body length wise and a blackish stripe down the opposite side.

It looks like one end has some small spike type protusions, but the body is smooth.

It's round in shape and about 7mm long, but stretched to about 12.

Any help, I've got it alive in a test tube at the moment.

 

[SnowManSnow]

its just a bristle worm.

harmelss, unless it gets GINORMOUS.. which it probably wont

If you visit your tank at night and look in there with a flashlight you'll likely see a LOT of them

I'd throw him back in and let him live a peaceful worm's life

 

[Kasey]

How come it isn't "bristly" then?

Just a smooth body.

Haven't seen any more, yet....

 

[brandonberry]

It is still really hard to tell from those pictures. Can you pour it out of the jar onto a plate or something and take a picture of it in a sunny spot?