help id worm

[ebojo]

I recently added a new piece of live rock to my tank earlier today. Tonight, several hours after the lights were turned off, I saw a tan colored worm looking thing at the base of the rock. I couldn't really tell much about it because of the lack of light - as soon as I turned the lights on, it immediately sank back into the rock. All I know was that it was probably a few millimeters thick and tan. Any ideas?

 

[sporto0]

most likely a bristle worm

 

[ebojo]

didnt seem much like a bristle worm. i didnt see any legs or anything - more of a smooth cylindrical body.

 

[Wrobel278]

it could be a peanut worm. Check out http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html

 

[ebojo]

I will try to get a pic tonight. Also, there are little microscopic bugs, probably about a mm in length. Seems to be a ton of them. Any ideas?

 

[SushiGirl]

Sounds like a peanut worm to me too.
The others would be pods. Probably isopods or amphipods.

 

[ebojo]

Oh ok cool. Know how to get rid of the worm?

 

[Sk8r]

never get rid of a worm, except one: eunicids, and they, with multiple legs and a head full of tentacles, are pretty easy to spot [google it.] If it's any other kind, leave it.

 

[ebojo]

I just got a good look at the worm, a different one from the one described above. This worm is probably 1.5'' in length, kind of a mix between a green/yellow/brown color. It has legs all down in, but I'm not sure on the tentacle part. It had something stringy hanging off its head, but didn't seem much like tentacles - they just kinda floated behind the head, and there were a ton of them.

 

[Wrobel278]

Agree with Sk8r leave it. They do no harm, only help cleaning up.

 

[ebojo]

But they are gross!!

 

[Wrobel278]

LOL But they are good for your tank!!

 

[SushiGirl]

Reefs are full of creepy gross stuff, most of which are beneficial to it.