Help identify worm

[uptown112]

Ok, i just saw this wor, last night and i'm wondering if it's a keeper or not. It lives in the rock and the part I saw was about 4 or 5 inches long and about the size of a piece of spaghetti. It was striped white and brown. Here is the weird part. It actually moved like a snake would. Here is the wierd part though; instead of slithering back into the rock, it retracted into itself. One stripe at a time. First a white striped got sucked into a brown one then vice versa. I'll try to get a pic, but any ideas?

 

[reefworm]

uptown,
Probably a polychaete of some sort, but identification is often quite difficult. There are hundreds to thousands of species. Do post a pick if you can. Most hitchhiking worms are beneficial, or at least not a problem. Leave it be.

You might do better posting identification questions like this one in the hitchhiker board.

regards,
rw

 

[Michelle50]

Did it look like this? It's called a peanut worm, I've got tons in my tank, very light shy.

 

[Tim Reed]

I've had a peanut worm just like the one you described for about a year now and it hasn't bothered anything. I actually have several and have not noticed any problems.

 

[JKurtz]

I've noticed a worm identical to the one in Michelle50's photo in my tank for several months, and it does exactly what you describe,i.e., retracting into itself. It's really quite fascinating and apparently harmless as it hasn't caused any problems that I'm aware of. I'd leave it in peace.

Jeff

 

[reefworm]

If it is indeed a peanut worm by all means leave it be. They are very productive members of your reefs janitorial staff.

-rw

 

[esmithiii]

I have several peanut worms and they are exactly as you describe. Entirely beneficial.

Ernie