Help..I'm afraid to put my hand back in!

[Allenfamily]

I think there is an elephant hiding behind one of our rocks. We haven't seen it but this morning we spotted its trunk sticking out from behind a rock. Seriously there is some kind of worm so here are a couple of pictures, if anybody can ID it would be appreciated. This thing appears to be at least 3 or 4 inches long and about half the diameter of a pencil. Thanks, Jeff and Christie
I see the date on our camera is wrong the picture was taken this morning.

 

[Jan]

Cool! He looks like he could be a feather duster type of worm (but I'm no expert)

 

[returnofsid]

I thought the same thing the first time I saw one in my tank. Google Peanut Worm or sipunculid worms. They're actually quite interesting and harmless.

 

[trido]

I was wathcing six or seven of those in my tank with my new red flash light the other night. Thanks Jan! Cool arent they..
Commonly known as peanut worms. Sipunculida worms Here is a link to read up on them
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/ click the tabs, Info links, hitch hikers, worms.

 

[Curtswearing]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rs/index.php

Harmless peanut worm

 

[trido]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rs/index.php

Harmless peanut worm

But Curt! Wouldnt it have been more educational and exciting for them to go through chucks web site and see the plethora of information available before getting to that artical? :lol: You party pooper!

 

[Curtswearing]

LOL.....I'm having Internet trouble. I had to reload my comment 10 times before it ever posted. By the time it finally did post, you guys had already ID'd it.

 

[trido]

LOL.....I'm having Internet trouble. I had to reload my comment 10 times before it ever posted. By the time it finally did post, you guys had already ID'd it.

I know the feeling.

 

[Jan]

I'm glad you're enjoying your new red light at night, Duane. They are definitely fun.

 

[g0rFz]

yep peanut worm i seen one once and was amazed i never had seen it before then...and i havent seen it since. elusive little guys, they are scavengers and harmless

 

[Allenfamily]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm suprised that it is so big but hasn't been seen.

 

[returnofsid]

If you read up on Peanut Worms, you'll find that it's actually larger than what you see. Most of the worm resides inside your live rock, where it burrows out a home. Most of it's body is much larger than the "probiscus" you're seeing. If you look closely, you'll see a very interesting mouth. It's quite cool to actually watch them eat. Use a red flashlight at night.

 

[Allenfamily]

Thanks everybody for all the input. It made for a good Saturday morning read and now I feel safe if I need to move somethig in the tank again. It sounds like this thing is good to have and a detrivore of that size would seem to be a big help. All I need now is a red light. Thanks again and enjoy Saturday.

 

[G&NSalty425]

I think I have one of those in my tank too. I just have a regular flashlight and shine it in at night and saw it for the first time last night creepy looking but good to know they are a good thing in the tank. I am thinking I need to get us a red flashlight so I can check things out better at night