Unknown Worm:

[genebeard8]

I have a seahorse tank, and Im looking for someone who can tell me
what this unknown worm is I have in my tank!! And they are breeding
really fast, started out with 2, now there is about 20 that I can
count and probably more...
They came in on a shipment of plants I got from Florida...
I need to know if they are a threat to my seahorses, and what they
are???
The picture of this worm is in my picture album, on Reef Central...
Please help!!!!
genebeard8

 

[ladybug5234]

I dont know how to access the picture albums any more since they changed the site but by the sounds of it, your worm may be a bristle worm, which can be a pest sometimes. They are orange-ish in color with some purple-ish in the center. If that sounds like it is, then you may want to be careful as they release their bristles when touched. As far as a threat to your horses, unless they become very large, they should pose no danger. They are generally detritus eaters, and they grow in numbers when the tank is overfed, which will happen if you dont clean up after you feed your horses. To be sure, if you could post a picture of one here on the thread itself, or put a link to your album, that would be helpful.

 

[genebeard8]

No they are not Bristle Worms.....I know what they look like!!!
Here is a picture of one...Maybe you might know....
Thanks

 

[angieg1123]

Medusa worm maybe?

 

[Hephalump]

Dang. I hate to say it but you may have a Eunicid worm. They are predatory and can be a big problem. I did a google image search on eunicid and the worms that popped up do seem to resemble the picture you posted. Good luck.

 

[ladybug5234]

I just googled Eunicid worm and clicked on images and there are some that resemble your picture but it is hard to tell since yours seem to have small tentacles within the larger ones. You may want to try that same search (click on images) and compare them yourself since you know exactly what yours looks like.

 

[genebeard8]

I want to Thank all of you for your time and consideration in this matter!!!
Thanks again everyone....

 

[Elysia]

WAIT! I'm not sure that is an Euncid. They wouldn't have appendages on their scarey spikey mouth parts. I think that Ann is correct, that what you may have is the more traditional "medusa worm," which is a type of sea cucumber.

Although I wouldn't bet the farm on it, I am reasonably sure that your hitchhiker is some sort of sea cucumber, and thus not a worm at all. As such, they are unlikely to hurt your seahorses directly, and I wouldn't go about poking and proding them, or trying to exact them if you are not certain you can't remove them gently and without harming them. There are many sea cukes that are perfectly harmLESS, but I'm not certain which species you have, and cukes only hurt other animals when they are harassed.

So, I would suggest you don't harass the animal and post your photo over in "Other Invertebrates" to see if Mike (greenbean), or Don (pagojoe), or Leslie may have any words of wisdom for you. While you don't have to ignore what other members say to you, its sometimes a good idea to take their IDs w/ a grain of salt. The three people I mentioned study inverts; some people here are interested in inverts and have done some reading and hope to be helpful when we can (this is what I strive for), some are well meaning but mis-informed, and some just must like to type! If you are willing to sift through, though, you can usually extract some interesting and useful information.

 

[graveyardworm]

Definately looks like some sort of cuke/filter feeder guy. Whatever it is I would say the mouthparts arent of the predatory type unless you happen to be a film algae or small crustacean.