Anything eat spaghetti worms?

[karid]

Our tank has a ton of (what I believe are) spaghetti worms. Is there anything out there that eats them or how can I get rid of them? I don't mind a few, but they are taking over.

There are one or two clearish white "tentacles" coming out of each tube. They're in the sand, in the rocks, everywhere.

 

[spstimie]

http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/resources/factsheets/spaghettiworms.htm
spaghetti worms article doesnt sound like it though

 

[spstimie]

http://www.pirx.com/gallery/worms/sworm01
not spaghetti

 

[karid]

THanks for the last link! I was skeptical because spaghetti worms have so many arms, and mine only have one or two.

But anyway, the second link led me to another site (http://wetwebfotos.com/Home?actionRequest=userview&userID=2470) that shows that it is either a chaetopterid worm, or a Spionid worm.

More info near the bottom:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/index.php

Sounds like only way to remove them is manually.

 

["Umm fish?"]

I love them. They are one of the better members of the cleanup crew. I've seen them with tenticle lengths of up to 4". That's 8" of sandbed I don't have to worry about. No fish foods get past these guys. When they start to get too thick, I just scoop out a handful. But, my conchs also do a pretty good job of breaking them up. My only problem with them is that they'll reach up and over and steal food off the open brain's oral disk.

 

[karid]

I don't mind them in the rocks, just the sand bed is getting too populated. I guess I'll scoop out a handful. Good to know they're so good at cleaning up!

 

[roguemonk]

If you cut back your feedings or siphon off excess food after feeding you would probably curtail their spread. Possibly skimming would help also.

Brad

 

[Haddonisreef]

I had a Manderin that would eat spag worms. Although sounds like there not what you have.

 

["Umm fish?"]

BTW, my guess on ID is Phyllochaetopterus.

 

[Mr.Biggs]

If tring to remove from sand bed use a cat litter scoop spoon.

 

[karid]

Yea, I think you are right. THey are supposed to be the most common in reef tanks.

If anyone wants any of these guys - come on over!

 

[wantsalotta]

These will also irritate Zoas and cause them not to open fully some of the time. Constant irritation from them can lead to decline of the affected colony, FWIW.