Any ideas what this is??

[medic29]

I have no idea what this is...

I thought it was just some sort of algae and it was on one side of my tank, down on the sand bed near some live rock. Tonight I noticed that it is in various places near or on the sand bed throughout the tank. I am not sure how to describe it. It is thin, thread-like; orange in color.

Tonight we think we saw this move one of the threads and pull some food down to the sandbed. I can't see any head/mouth or where it would have pulled food to. I am perplexed as to what this is.

Anyone have any ideas??

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Spaghetti worm, one of Santa's little helpers.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Yup, tis a terebellid polychaete; aka Spaghetti Worm. Harmless scavengers.

 

[medic29]

Okay...so nothing to worry about right??

 

[m2434]

They're good cleaners. If there are lots you might be feeding too much.

 

[medic29]

hmmm...didn't think about the feeding idea. That is possible. thanks!!!

 

[Paintbug]

thats a cirratulid polychaete or Hair worm, not a terebellid polychaete. harmless and good to have either way.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Cirratulid or Terebellid- either way it is beneficial to the tank.

But- Paintbug, what part of it leads you to think cirratulid instead? Looking at the photos, there appears to be a number of feeding tentacles like in terebellids, as opposed to the single pair often found in cirratulids. My worm IDing isnt that great, so just wondering if there is some other aspect Im overlooking maybe? Thanks!

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10953756#post10953756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hormigaquatica
Cirratulid or Terebellid- either way it is beneficial to the tank.

But- Paintbug, what part of it leads you to think cirratulid instead? Looking at the photos, there appears to be a number of feeding tentacles like in terebellids, as opposed to the single pair often found in cirratulids. My worm IDing isnt that great, so just wondering if there is some other aspect Im overlooking maybe? Thanks!

terebellids tentacles are white, or pale yellow. they never have dark spots. here are some nice pics of terebellids.
http://scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/nsf/fguide/annelida3.html

here are some nice out of the sand pics of both worms.
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/hitchworms.html

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Interesting (I even have Chuck's site book marked as one of my references already ) I wouldnt have considered color to be a factor at all; thanks for pointing that one out.