Is this a tube worm??

[one4gatr]

Was wondering if this a tube worm or the dreaded aptaisia... Thanks!

 

[jlinzmaier]

Defiantely not apitasia!! Your OK!!

Can't tell by the pic, but I'm assuming the tube is calcified and hard. If so, you have some variety of tube worm. There are hundreds of species of these types of critters and are a nice sign that there is biological diversity within your system.

There are types of worms that extend a fan like that to catch debris and they don't have a calcerous body. If this thing is able to wiggle away then you've got something else on your hands. If that's the case speak up and I'll find some pics and identify further for you.

Jeremy

 

[one4gatr]

Defiantely not apitasia!! Your OK!!

Can't tell by the pic, but I'm assuming the tube is calcified and hard. If so, you have some variety of tube worm. There are hundreds of species of these types of critters and are a nice sign that there is biological diversity within your system.

There are types of worms that extend a fan like that to catch debris and they don't have a calcerous body. If this thing is able to wiggle away then you've got something else on your hands. If that's the case speak up and I'll find some pics and identify further for you.

Jeremy

Thanks Jeremy... yes it does have a calcified tube that it comes out of... I have a few of these same tubes with single or two worms coming out of as well... So far I have found 2 like this that actually look like a fan (or umbrella) so I just wanted to be sure...

Now on the ones that are only one or two threads I often see them shooting something out into the water column... any idea what they are shooting out?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[jlinzmaier]

Now on the ones that are only one or two threads I often see them shooting something out into the water column... any idea what they are shooting out?

Thanks,

Mark

OK. Next critter ID.

My guess is you see a hard coiled little tube (which doesn't have a fan) releasing a bit of string (like a spider web). The will likely extend this string when you feed the tank. Here's a pic of my guess:
http://http://www.melevsreef.com/id/vermetid.html

These are vermetid snails. Their string can be irritating to corals sometimes and their populations can get out of control under the right conditions.

Here's a link to a recent thread about vermetids:
http://http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1712621

If my guess is wrong please give me some more details and we'll get critter #2 ID'd.

Jeremy

 

[one4gatr]

OK. Next critter ID.

My guess is you see a hard coiled little tube (which doesn't have a fan) releasing a bit of string (like a spider web). The will likely extend this string when you feed the tank. Here's a pic of my guess:
http://http://www.melevsreef.com/id/vermetid.html

These are vermetid snails. Their string can be irritating to corals sometimes and their populations can get out of control under the right conditions.

Here's a link to a recent thread about vermetids:
http://http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1712621

If my guess is wrong please give me some more details and we'll get critter #2 ID'd.

Jeremy

No thats not quite them... I have attached a pic but its hard to see,,, I think I have them nailed down to spaghetti worms... but I could be wrong... the tube the come out of is straight maybe 1/8" long white calcified looking like the other.... Maybe the pic will help.... Thanks for the help!

 

[jlinzmaier]

Ah ha! Yes, very likely a spaghetti worm. If you look at it at night (and it truly is a spaghetti worm) it will have long thin tentacles sweeping around the rockwork. The one I have actually extends tentacles about 3-4 inches at times. You'll also find a tell tale pile of detritus and sifted debris outside of it's hole each day. Mine usually comes out about 1-2 hours after the lights go out.

The are reef safe, a sign of good bio diversity, and good at cleaning up and eating waste and debris that collects on the rockwork around it's burrow.

Jeremy

 

[one4gatr]

Ah ha! Yes, very likely a spaghetti worm. If you look at it at night (and it truly is a spaghetti worm) it will have long thin tentacles sweeping around the rockwork. The one I have actually extends tentacles about 3-4 inches at times. You'll also find a tell tale pile of detritus and sifted debris outside of it's hole each day. Mine usually comes out about 1-2 hours after the lights go out.

The are reef safe, a sign of good bio diversity, and good at cleaning up and eating waste and debris that collects on the rockwork around it's burrow.

Jeremy

Yup thats what I thought... I have one that has a couple on "tentacles" that are like 3" long... any idea on what they are shooting into the water column? My guess would be waste product but wasnt sure if they were releasing eggs... Its almost like they are cleaning their area around them...

Thanks,

Mark

 

[jlinzmaier]

I have no idea what they might be shooting out into the water column. As far as I'm aware they only extend feeder tentacles and live peacefully in their little home. Can you describe what you see shooting out? It may be waste of some sort or eggs or sperm that it's releasing. I'd have to look into their reproductive habits to see if that's even remotely a chance. Many of these types of little critters reproduce asexually and don't release eggs or sperm into the water column.

Jeremy

 

[one4gatr]

its pretty wierd looking... its almost totally clear... starts at base of the worm and you can see it move it all the way to the end then just kind of "spit" it up into the water... i would estimate the size of the discharge to be about the size of a ball point of a pen except its more shaped like a football... LOL... not a huge deal just didnt know what it was... as long as it doesnt hurt my tank I am all good...

Thanks Jeremy...

Mark

 

[one4gatr]

Here is what I found after digging around...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eupolymnia_crasscornis

May be eggs or sperm... wierd but really cool to watch... I will try to get a shot of it next time I see it happening...

Thanks,

Mark

 

[lloydkeller]

ive got quite afew of them behind and under rocks