Worm Attack

marinecrazy

New Member
I recently noticed the appearance of strange looking worm-like creatures in my tank. I can't seem to match them to my marine books, so I'm not sure if they are harmful or not. I managed to grab a picture of one of them, it appears to be light green in color, with it's front part (assumed front because it's the tip where the head seems to be browsing around), is covered with square like ridges, while it's second half tail-part seems to only be lines. Please take a look at the picture and provide any insights. Should I try to get rid of it?
The second type of worm is much more smaller, about a couple of mm in length. It seems to have little branches coming out from its body, and its head has two antennae looking objects. I don't have a picture of this one yet, but I noticed a handful of them on my alveopora, which is slowly disintegrating now. I'll try to grab a picture of these pests and see what everyone has to say.
Thanks!


 

marinecrazy

New Member
Here's the second kind of worm that I found. There are a handful of these guys around the tank, and I suspect that they're eating my alveopora, since that's where they were from and my alveopora is disintegrating now. Any clue what it is? It's only about 1mm-1.5mm long.
See the head on the top with the two antennas and those branch-like things coming out of its body?
Any thoughts would be great! Thanks!

 

cranberry

Active Member
That's not a worm, it's a nudibranch and for sure that one is munching on corals.
What soft corals do you have in there?
 

marinecrazy

New Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3068595
That's not a worm, it's a nudibranch and for sure that one is munching on corals.
What soft corals do you have in there?
Oh man, I got a bit of everything. Goniopora, Alveopora, Bubble-tip Anemones, Mushroom Corals, Sponges, Xenias, Zoas, etc. Someone suggested it might be a Berghia nudibrach.
 

jackri

Active Member
First kudos on taking such good pictures on such things.
No idea what the worm is but the nudibranches I would definately try and remove (good luck with it). I like strange critters but not destructive ones and the monster worms that hide for years and turn out to be 4ft scare me too.
 

bang guy

Moderator
I agree with everything Cranberry said. The Bristlework looks to be harmless to coral (maybe not harmless to sponges) and the Nudi (not Berghia) most likely eats some type of soft coral.
 

marinecrazy

New Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/3068655
I agree with everything Cranberry said. The Bristlework looks to be harmless to coral (maybe not harmless to sponges) and the Nudi (not Berghia) most likely eats some type of soft coral.
Thanks guys! Yah I'll keep an eye on them, I still can't seem to match them to any specific nudibranch. I noticed them coming out of my alveopora first, which is already half disintegrated. It wasn't until I wiggled it around when I noticed these little stuff floating off from it, and now they're crawling everywhere.
I'll try to get rid of them one-by-one as I see them. Thanks!
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3068613
First kudos on taking such good pictures on such things.
No idea what the worm is but the nudibranches I would definately try and remove (good luck with it). I like strange critters but not destructive ones and the monster worms that hide for years and turn out to be 4ft scare me too.
Ditto!
 
Top