Strange thin white things that come out at night!!

[salt newbie01]

This may be nothing but I wanted to make sure. After my main lights go off and the moon lights come on, these thin white string like things come out of the rock. They seem to be attached to the rock, as their location does not seem to change. They move around with the current as if they are not capable of movement themselves. They are from 1/4 to 1 inch or so in length. I would assume they are some type of worm that gets small particles of food from the water column. I wasn't sure if they would sting corals or if they would bother the mandarin I just got, as he cruised around over the rocks looking for pods. Has anyone seen these things in their tank? Should I do anything about them or just leave them be?

Thanks

 

[bkv1997]

http://melevsreef.com/id/dualpalps.html

Is that what they look like patrick?

 

[salt newbie01]

no these are just one single tentacle - and I can't see any sort of base to them. I will let them come out tonight and see if I can get a picture.
Thanks for trying

 

[ct_vol]

I have tons of worms, etc. that stick they're "arms" out at night... Some look like they have hairy tentacles, others more smooth... I also have this thing that fly's around the tank in the middle of the night... It looks like its spinning around at a mile a minute... Kinda like a corkscrew... Its only about a half inch long... I'm more worried about it, than I am the worm tentacles... I think they're more filter feeders than anything else, and won't be stinging any of the corals... Just keep an eye on'em and see if they do any damage I reckon...

 

[salt newbie01]

Cool, thanks Randy! :smokin: I was beginning to feel like I had some strange stuff in my tank. I haven't noticed them stinging anything - I just got a mandarin from a lady in chatt town that was breaking down her tank. I was watching him move about over the rocks and wondered if they would sting him? Maybe he'll eat them - who knows. At least someone has the same things I do. I'm not weird after all...Well maybe a little!

Thanks again

 

[ct_vol]

Patrick ~ Oh btw, I fragged one of my green rics... I'll bring it to the next meeting if you like...

 

[salt newbie01]

That would be very cool Randy! And yes I would like very much. I just got 2 rics from Michael's - they have a pink/orange outer ring with blue centers and green mouths - I got a bonus little one on the rock I got - I'll bring it to you and we can swap if you'd be interested. Let me know.

 

[salt newbie01]

I got a positive Id on my worms - Digitate hydroids . There is a pic of them on melev's id page under worms. from what I have read there is some confusion as to weather or not they will hurt anything. Some think they may sting fish??