Do spaghetti worms spit out food?

TriggerFinger · Dec 18, 2018

I’m not even entirely sure what I just saw...there’s a hole in my rock that usually has very thin hair like worms coming out of it. I thought it was strands of my long hair before and tried to grab it out; it retracted into the rock real quick. So out of this same hole comes a long brown arm looking thing, probably 3” long, and it spit out/expelled a puff of cloudy water and disappeared back into the rock. I’ve seen clams in my live rock make the same type of cloudy puff. No pictures of this, happened so fast. Do spaghetti worms do this? I’m so confused, don’t even know where to begin on a google search.
Here is a picture of what I think is spaghetti worm tentacles but I’ve had some very odd creatures so it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s something else. You’re probably not able to see them, they’re very thin

Dancingmad · Dec 18, 2018

Hmm, look up digitate hydroids and see if that is your critter. Just a guess.

Closer shot for more detail would be helpful for more opinions!

reef lover · Dec 19, 2018

Spaghetti worms! And i think you just witnessed broadcast spawning....

TriggerFinger · Dec 19, 2018

I have wondered if they are hydroids too, I’m not really sure to be honest. They are in the back corner of the tank and I can’t get my head back there to see them up close.

Most of the digitate hydroids show 1 tentacle in the google pics; I have 5 plus tentacles coming from one spot. I got kp Aquatics rock so no telling what could be in there. Will try to get better pics as I see them again.

reef lover · Dec 19, 2018

Def spaghetti worms...not hydroids...

Silver14SS · Dec 19, 2018

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/6/inverts

Maybe this?

TriggerFinger · Dec 19, 2018

I found that page before silver, the first picture in the article shows 1 tentacle from a base although it does look exactly like what I have. Maybe mine have been growing longer and that’s why there’s so many tentacles coming from one spot.

I still don’t understand the huge, thick brown tentacle that exposed itself to...spit...something.

TriggerFinger · Dec 19, 2018

reef lover said:
Def spaghetti worms...not hydroids...

What do you see that makes you think it’s not hydroids? Im having trouble telling the difference.

reef lover · Dec 20, 2018

Im not seeing the bottle brush look they have with all their stinging cells..even the link provided i can see those stinging cells..yours are smooth and appear to be capturing small particulate food items on thier arms...

TriggerFinger · Dec 27, 2018

More pictures, fast little buggers. I tried to grab one out. The one was stretched about 6” too

Dancingmad · Dec 28, 2018

Hmm I'm revising my guess to ctenophores, aka comb jelly

Edit: Link because google image search doesn't show the critter!

https://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/ctenophore/

reef lover · Dec 28, 2018

Generally comb jellies have long tendrils hanging down..

Dancingmad · Dec 28, 2018

Yeah, you're right - they look very netty normally....really cool critters to watch them cast and reel.

TriggerFinger · Jan 18, 2019

So these things have moved and I got better pictures. They make a tube out of rock debris and sand, outgrow the tube I guess and then they show up in a new spot. The old tube appears empty and will fall apart in a few days. Spaghetti worm pictures appear as smooth strands. I do have smooth strands in other parts of the tank. These look segmented? They curl up really tight also. They’re bizarre.