Bad or good hitchhiker worm?

[egdirbkram]

I'm trying to ID this guy (white hairy/bristlelike worm on glass) to know if I should pull it or keep it. I have new tank with florida aquacultured live rock. I'm hoping it's not a bristleworm as I know they're bad and have to go. I'd like to keep it if will be helpful stirring up the sand and eating detritus. I don't want to keep any known coral eaters. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I going to take a punt at.. from all I have learnt from reef2reef, this is not a bristleworm
I can not I'd it but I'm going to say... Keeper

 

[Bucs20fan]

Youve stumped me with this one chief. But you get a gold star of the day for "cool looking thingy in a reef tank"

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Possibly the Stiff-footed Sea Cucumber, Eupentacta quinquesemita? That's the closest match I can think of at the moment (Eupentacta pseudoquinquesemita looks almost identical, but it is reported to prefer colder waters/live farther north).

Edit: if it is this sea cucumber, then it's a filter feeder/detritus eater (so filter feeder/CUC). However, you'd want to educate yourself on the risks of keeping sea cucumbers (particularly since this one is known eject toxins when it feels threatened).
Here's a link with more info:

What to do with Medusa worm?

I found about 3-4 Medusa Worms in my tank, I have read that they can be beneficial to help the CUC. But also have heard if stressed they can kill all life in tank. Right now they are only about 1/2” long. My question is leave them or somehow try to remove them. more info 75 gallon DT 25 gallon...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Bucs20fan]

@SlugSnorter your help is requested.

 

[LiverockRocks]

idk, will ask J, but that tunicate behind it is gorgeous!

 

[egdirbkram]

idk, will ask J, but that tunicate behind it is gorgeous!

I didn’t come to you to ask because our last email exchange was well
Which is also why my post was about generic 'florida aquacultured liverock' and not at all vendor specific.
That said thanks for taking the ID to J.

 

[egdirbkram]

here is a view from above, all my other shots were from underneath:

 

[Homewrecker]

Now that is a funky one!

 

[egdirbkram]

Now that is a funky one!

yeah, it's about an inch long and an 1/8" wide

 

[Homewrecker]

yeah, it's about an inch long and an 1/8" wide

Is it "squishy"

 

[egdirbkram]

Is it "squishy"

I haven't touched it yet it hasn't given me consent.

 

[egdirbkram]

Possibly the Stiff-footed Sea Cucumber

it's crawled about 14" or so along the glass since my first post. if it is a Eupentacta quinquesemita wouldn't it be odd for it to be up on the glass vs down in the sand.

 

[Homewrecker]

Perhaps something like this?

Biographical Sketch: Blob-like + Non-encrusting

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

it's crawled about 14" or so along the glass since my first post. if it is a Eupentacta quinquesemita wouldn't it be odd for it to be up on the glass vs down in the sand.

Actually, from what I can find of these guys, it seems they don't mind climbing things (there's a couple of videos of them feeding while up on elevated surfaces), and (depending on a few different things like the time of day, flow, etc.) it may not be abnormal for it be up on the glass (plus, these guys are also noted for preferring rock to sand for their substrate).

Edit: some other similar cucumbers that it could be include Pseudocnus lubricus (these also prefer rocky substrates) and two Pentamera spp. Differentiation between species can be determined by looking at the oral tentacles for P. lubricus, but they use microscope to examine the skin ossicles for differentiating between the other three species.

 

[LiverockRocks]

yeah, it's about an inch long and an 1/8" wide

“ I have definitely not seen that one before.” - J

Do you think it came in on your Florida rocks? M nor I have seen one like it. -Wen

 

[ScottJ]

Perhaps something like this?

Biographical Sketch: Blob-like + Non-encrusting

This web page is fascinating!

 

[egdirbkram]

Do you think it came in on your Florida rocks?

Before the shipment I only had 20lbs of:

and a blend of Instant Ocean and Coralife Marine Salt.

After the shipment i've only added a Sea Serpent Star and Anemone Frag from my LFS. Also got shrimp, crabs and snails from reefcleaners (also Florida Based.) I netted all of the critters from the bags. I'm not sure what else besides the rock the little guy could have rode in on. TBH, I'm more concerned with a reef safe/not safe ID than source.

Thanks for checking.

 

[madmarks]

Possibly the Stiff-footed Sea Cucumber, Eupentacta quinquesemita? That's the closest match I can think of at the moment (Eupentacta pseudoquinquesemita looks almost identical, but it is reported to prefer colder waters/live farther north).

Edit: if it is this sea cucumber, then it's a filter feeder/detritus eater (so filter feeder/CUC). However, you'd want to educate yourself on the risks of keeping sea cucumbers (particularly since this one is known eject toxins when it feels threatened).
Here's a link with more info:

What to do with Medusa worm?

I found about 3-4 Medusa Worms in my tank, I have read that they can be beneficial to help the CUC. But also have heard if stressed they can kill all life in tank. Right now they are only about 1/2” long. My question is leave them or somehow try to remove them. more info 75 gallon DT 25 gallon...

www.reef2reef.com

For visual comparison here is a picture of a Eupentacta quinquesemita

 

[egdirbkram]

For visual comparison here is a picture of a Eupentacta quinquesemita

i mean it sure looks like it doesn't it... thanks madmarks/iSpeakForTheSeas