Worm? Hydroid? Any Ideas?

npage

npage

Member
Shout out to the ID Experts!
Found a few of theses in my fuge.
I have never seen anything like it.
Any ideas?



 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Pretty good picture. Seems to be a spaghetti worm, as Spanko already said.
This are another type of tube worm, unfortunately most find them one of the less beautiful. They extend their feeding tentacles much like a feather duster extends their plume. They are harmless filter feeders.
The only downside to these worms is that if they are really close to corals, the tentacles can cause the corals to not open. It won't really harm the coral per se, but obviously if it doesn't open for a long time, you can run into some problems.
Other than that, you're okay. Enjoy your worm
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Hydroid/anemone popped to my head first. I think I saw a pic something like that in one of my books but I can't find it.
EDIT: oops...was staring at the pic too long.... didn't realize others had answered.
 
npage

npage

Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/2997508
Google "Family Edwardsiidae"
This is a University link......
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...vectensis.html
EDIT: Google Nematostella vectensis in their images.
Not saying it's that one, but just showing that there are critters in that family that look like what you have.
Cranberry. You were dead on. I sent the pict to Dr Ron Shimek and this was his reply
I would use the next larger taxonomic grouping and call it a member of the Nynantheae (a group which includes the Ewardsiidae). There are several families of quite similar small burrowing or burying anemones. In nature they live in sand habitats and eat lots of littler creatures. They do much the same in aquaria, but they can proliferate by asexual reproduction (fission, mostly) and can become serious pests. They can sting and kill and eat many of the animals that make a sand bed functional. They may also sting and seriously damage much larger animals. I suggest you look through your system and remove all that you can see.
Click to expand...
Before I nuke them, is anyone interested in taking them?
They are very fascinating creature, I just cant run the risk of them endangering the rest of my reef.
 
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