Elusive worm ID???

[Debramb]

I took pic w/flash of iPhone, have tried several attempts w/flashlight and camera. It's laser quick. It's not segmented, no bristles, only comes out in very dark. The body looks like LR tube worm. I've tried Several data bases, not peanut, not spaghetti, I give up, please help, is it reef safe?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Nemertea?

 

[Debramb]

Caught again, diagonal in polops

 

[reeferfoxx]

I think it needs to be removed :(

 

[Debramb]

Afraid of that, choke out with freshwater bath, whole rock?

 

[reeferfoxx]

How big is the rock?

 

[reeferfoxx]

If the rock is softball size or more, you could try high salinity dip. Get SG to around 1.035ish and see if it doesn't scurry to a lower gravity spot. If it were smaller, you could maybe dip it in some coralRX or Revive. Only as long as you have plenty of live rock already established. Otherwise a pair of needlenose pliers and patience? lol

 

[Debramb]

More patience then I have. Thanks to your response I've read way to much about ribbon worms!! Besides, they just regenerate, Anyway. All rock is 15-20 years old, w/so many "pods" running around it looks like ants at a picnic. Rocks about Cantelope size, hate to kill green polops, but it's gotta go. I'm afraid to guess/find more

 

[Debramb]

Reeferfoxx, Thank-you, my reefer friend !!

 

[reeferfoxx]

Reeferfoxx, Thank-you, my reefer friend !!

Haha! No problem! Just paying it forward ;)

If you are ditching the rock, might not hurt to try some methods? Might help someone else along the way?

 

[Tahoe61]

I see no reason to remove it. Never had an issue with ribbon worms, it's not likely the only one.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Evryone else says to remove them? I know its difficult and often times results in just leaving them but really they seem ok to you? Little conflicting is all

 

[Tahoe61]

My experience is that they do not venture far from their hole or coral, I have had them live on Gonioporas. They are mostly nocturnal, no corals or clams have ever gone missing, it's not possible for them to take down a healthy fish.
The image might also be a peanut worm, it's hard to be certain.
That particular specimen looks to be living among palys I doubt it will do any harm to the palys.

Trust me I know the conflicting information available (bangs head against wall):confused:, I can only comment on my 1st hand experience.

I am more of a let me watch it and see if the creature is actually doing harm, rather then removing the creature just because at the moment it's easy to catch. Within reason of course, if I see a polyclad flatworm out it comes but most worms are harmless.

 

[reeferfoxx]

My experience is that they do not venture far from their hole or coral, I have had them live on Gonioporas. They are mostly nocturnal, no corals or clams have ever gone missing, it's not possible for them to take down a healthy fish.
The image might also be a peanut worm, it's hard to be certain.
That particular specimen looks to be living among palys I doubt it will do any harm to the palys.

Trust me I know the conflicting information available (bangs head against wall):confused:, I can only comment on my 1st hand experience.

I am more of a let me watch it and see if the creature is actually doing harm, rather then removing the creature just because at the moment it's easy to catch. Within reason of course, if I see a polyclad flatworm out it comes but most worms are harmless.

What about other micro fauna? Like pods, brittlestars, spaghetti worms etc?
Do they reproduce like bristleworms?

 

[Debramb]

I'm missing so many of my Bristleworms, I saw utube video of same size as mine swallow a whole Bristleworm. Yuck, I need my little cleaners!