Acropora parasitic(?) worm (not flat). Photo included.

[sczlars]

hey folks,

I'm wondering if anyone has run across this before. It is able to move inside the skeleton and stick its tentacles out of another nearby tip. I'd appreciate any info on this that anybody might have. I'm a little hesitant in labeling it parasitic.. though it does interfere with the growth of the inhabited tip. --Lars

 

[divewsharks]

Do you have a pic? One is not attached

 

[sczlars]

try reloading your browser window? Its there. --Lars

 

[RyanKou]

i have a couple of those in my tank. been there awhile havent seen any negative effects from them. cant id it for you though sorry

 

[sczlars]

I've figured out that it is a Spionid Worm. I'm fascinated that it has burrowed itself a couple of entrances, and can move about inside that part of the coral. Neat stuff. I'm thinking I should remove it, though. :hammer: I wonder if this is a one-off, or if it would reproduce and infest the coral further.

 

[Digitalelectric]

Ive got several of these in my corals. I dont think they travel through the skeletons as one is on a montipora cap of mine and never moves. Its rather interesting. I think they are regular worms on rock and the coral grows OVER them. The one on my monti cap is about an inch tall. It grows its tube, then the coral covers it, then the worms tube gets longer, then the coral grows more etc. There are a few pilars where the coral won and grew over the worm entirely.