Creature from rock

[gary jensen]

Two weeks ago, live rock was put into a new 20 gal tank. Over the past week a worm like thing has slowly emerged from a hole in a small piece of broken rock. It is now about 1.5" long by 3/16" diameter, it is free from it's hole in the rock and lying on the sand. It has a small fuzzy head that sometimes has a small extension in the middle. Also, it is translucent and a dark vein can be seen runing the length of the body. My question is, should I toss it out? No fish yet, as the nitrites are still high. Thanks for any help.

 

[byrself]

sounds like maybe a bristle worm. or similar. i wouldn't worry about it too much. i don't think it will cause any probs, but you can go here to find out for sure...<a href="http://www.reefs.org/hhfaw/pages/main_pages" target="_blank">web page</a>

 

[eseow]

If it has a worm body, with a feather crown, its a tube worm, or feather duster some call it. Its totally harmless, and is very pretty if find a hole to live it. I got a slab rock recntly with about 9 of them in total. Very good addition to to rock.

 

[susiepan]

To me it sounds like a Bristle...The ones I have sounds just like what you explained...The underside of them ar somewhat translucent, and you can see a darker?? body or spine running inside of it..
I try to take my bristles out, which I am doing as we speak, I have a "Trap-em" in the tanks...So far caught about 30 of em..(Last night and the night before)..YUCK!!!

 

[blackdog]

If it's a little worm that appears to have a mop of hair so that it looks like the trumpet player from the Muppet Show, then I think that's a spaghetti worm (from what I remember seeing at the Hitchhiker's FAQ). I had several of these crawl out from my Florida aquacultured rock when I first got it, but no sign of them after a couple of weeks.