Found this critter on my palythoas. Can anyone id it?

[tmgill81]

I found this little critter hanging around some of my zoanthids and palythoas. I am not sure if it was eating them, but was for sure irritating them. I think it is in the Class: Polychaete, but not sure. Any input is appreciated.

 

[aaronlp]

sorta looks like a medusa worm? not to sure tho

 

[XSharkboyX]

While I am not sure on the exact species, I do agree with you on Class: Polychaete. I would have removed it as well. If it was annoying a colony, chances are it was feeding on it...

 

[chucktd321]

Definitely Polychaete im pretty sure i saw one on another person pic before. +1 to sharkboy if it was irratating it was probably feeding

 

[kichimark]

That is beautiful. Why would you toss out such a creature? does it not have the same desire to live and flourish? Ah wait its in your tank bothering the zoas...yes...toss it. . I always say when in doubt...toss it out.

 

[philosophile]

you can post it to the invert forum, they would definately be able to give you an exact id.

 

[dublo8]

here is a good link if you ever want to find and ID any hitchhikers. http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html That guide has been my friend for a long time and helped me ID many many things.

 

[ItsNotJustFish]

not sure exactly what it is but it does look really good! like all the colors

 

[reefcrazyme]

it really depends when people say "it's bothering the corals" you can be cleaning the sand in the tank and your arms can brush against the coral and it can be classified as bothering it because the automatic reaction of the coral is to close up. If the thing was eating or killing the coral for sure you should get rid of it but if you only see the zoas closing just because that thing was crawling beside the zoas and was just rubbing against it i would not kill it. it's pretty colorful and it does look like a baby medusa worm.