Is it hard or soft? It might be a calcareous sponge of some type or perhaps the remnants of some type of macro algae. Also, exactly what color is it? It looks bone white, but it's kind of hard to tell with the blues on.
Thank you.
It is bone white, moves with flow a bit. I have removed the blues and added another two images, the second is a different one I have noticed?
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From these last two pictures it just looks like a sponge of some sort. In most cases these are harmless, but keep your eye on them just in case.
On the second thought, I cannot completely disagree on the identification. Thought the tank has been running without fish for last 2-3 months but do feed my corals occasionally and can see bristleworms thriving.If I'm not mistaken (and for your sake I hope I am) that sounds like a Fulgida worm.
They're meat eating worms that secret a mucous around their prey which seems to paralyze/suffocate them, then eat them.
They look kind of like a bristle worm, but have a flatter/rounded shovel kind of head, and they retract crazy fast for changes in light or if they feel anything bumped/water movement near them.
They tend to only like to come out when it's dark unless they're starving.
If you've noticed some of your CUC shells empty and a snot blob nearby, that's likely your culprit.
I got a rock that had a ton of them and didn't realize. I've been trapping and removing them now for about a month. I think I've removed about 40 so far.
If you need help making a trap let me know, but the design floating around online using PVC pipe, pantyhose and scallops for bait has been the most effective for me.
They will kill your CUC snails and any clams you have in the tank. I have seen them eat a bristle worm or two as well.
edit: also forgot to mention they aren't nearly as sensitive to red light. I ended up buying some red LED flashlights in order to hunt them at night, it made it much easier.
On the second thought, I cannot completely disagree on the identification. Thought the tank has been running without fish for last 2-3 months but do feed my corals occasionally and can see bristleworms thriving.
I'm a bit worried at this point as there are at least 5-6 such worms that I can find with only red lights on and expect a lot more to be hiding. The largest I can see is hardly 2 inch long and around 1mm thick, probably the only way to catch them would be something like a planaria trap that we use in Freshwater tanks.
Here's a recent pic, probably this will help in positive identification.![]()
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I guess this is it.That's cool, I had no idea there was a 'bristleworm' (this guy) and the 'common bristleworm' (the ones I've seen before)
There are so many critters in this hobby it's mind blowing.
Does your worm eat like this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns0nrU8Y2xg
Thanks for all your input guys, especially alcimedea and ALSimmons.It's a relief that this isn't one of the" not so wanted type of worm".That's cool, I had no idea there was a 'bristleworm' (this guy) and the 'common bristleworm' (the ones I've seen before)
There are so many critters in this hobby it's mind blowing.
Does your worm eat like this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns0nrU8Y2xg
Just set-up my new tank with live rock and I found this little guy. His he a friendly...