Strange Worms

[YamahaF934]

I noticed some tiny tiny little tentacles coming out of the rocks. They are redish and like centipedes with many little legs. They dont move around the tank.

I tried to grab one and it shot back into the rock. Very quickly.

What kind of worm is this. Beneficial or problem. My camera will not focus on it.

 

[Krish]

Do the best you can to try and get a photo so we can have something to work with. It will be your best shot at getting an ID.

 

[alki]

Hooray for Bristle Worms!

 

[Faciosity]

Sounds like a bristleworm to me. Good part of your cleanup crew, just don't touch them!

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f224/ouch-bristleworms-58144/

 

[YamahaF934]

With Picures

Alright. here they are. I believe they are bristleworms. . . Is this a good thing or a bad thing. When i feed the tank I see them on every rock and there are lots of them. What do I do?

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[Faciosity]

Those are mini brittle or serpent stars. Also very good cleaners. I've had tons of those for a couple years now. They are quite desirable, and when they stick their arms out of the rocks they are trying to catch a snack. They are detrivores, but eat almost anything small that they can get their hands on.

 

[jrgilles]

yes, brittle stars. Not a problem.

 

[the6goat6man6]

CATION my friend!!!!!! Beware that they ARE NOT these nasty little guys, Ophiarachna (Ophiuroidea). If they are they are they can reach over a foot and have a big appetite, for your fish and shrimp, even some clams. But what i can see they look like Ophiocoma, peaceful detrital feeders. Hard to tell just buy tenticles.(info: Reef hobbyist mag, 1st quarter, vol 5 2011. Artical by Peggy Nelson

Alright. here they are. I believe they are bristleworms. . . Is this a good thing or a bad thing. When i feed the tank I see them on every rock and there are lots of them. What do I do?

[/IMG]

 

[LeslieH]

It is hard to tell from a picture showing just arms however the dreaded Ophiarachna incrassata is solid green in color and does not live in the rocks like that. Yamaha's brittle stars could belong to any one of numerous rock-dwelling detritus-feeding species.

 

[the6goat6man6]

I did not know Ophiarachna did not live in rocks, I have seen a pic of a reddish brown one. They look to me like they have a "brainy" looking patern on their body.

It is hard to tell from a picture showing just arms however the dreaded Ophiarachna incrassata is solid green in color and does not live in the rocks like that. Yamaha's brittle stars could belong to any one of numerous rock-dwelling detritus-feeding species.

 

[LeslieH]

O. incrassata is always green. The brown one you saw could still be an Ophiarachna but a different species. There are so many animals it's hard to keep them straight!