Interesting filter feeder?

FernBluffReef · Nov 18, 2023

Bought a nice Blow Pop Zoa that was on a chunk of live rock.

Hidden underneath was a single Aptisia (super gule didn't work but a hammer and chisel did) and a bunch of green bubble algae both removed to best of ability.

This guy I noticed this morning. Some sort of worm I assume. It's exterior seems to have collected sand from the sand bed. Frag is sitting on the sand bed and this critter is 1/2"-1" above.

Thoughts on what type of ... it is and if good or bad? I don't recall every seeing anything do this when reefing 23 years ago. Just getting back in and it's been a long time so the obvious may not be as obvious to me anymore

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 18, 2023

vellingapa said:
Bought a nice Blow Pop Zoa that was on a chunk of live rock.

Hidden underneath was a single Aptisia (super gule didn't work but a hammer and chisel did) and a bunch of green bubble algae both removed to best of ability.

This guy I noticed this morning. Some sort of worm I assume. It's exterior seems to have collected sand from the sand bed. Frag is sitting on the sand bed and this critter is 1/2"-1" above.

Thoughts on what type of ... it is and good or bad? I don't recall every seeing anything do this when reefing 23 years ago. Just getting back in and it's been a long time so the obvious may not be as obvious to me anymore

Show me It when it's out, from the tube I can say either a spaghetti worm, tube-constructing amphipod, hair worm or featherduster. All of which are harmless/beneficial

FernBluffReef · Nov 18, 2023

Have not caught out yet. I imagine I’ll see it tonight.

I cleaned the rock pretty well when introducing so this is 5 days growth. Agreed my first thought is good guy. It being covered with sand already I thought was odd

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 18, 2023

vellingapa said:
Have not caught out yet. I imagine I’ll see it tonight.

I cleaned the rock pretty well when introducing so this is 5 days growth. Agreed my first thought is good guy. It being covered with sand already I thought was odd

I got about 5 different sand tube constructing species in my tank. If they put out long, white/transparent arms than it's a spaghetti worm. If it puts out small, thin brown/red arms its a hair worm. If it puts out a feathery head than it's a featherduster. And If you don't see anything except small prongs than it's a amphipod or some other worm that @ISpeakForTheSeas can ID

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Nov 19, 2023

Reefkeepers Archive said:
Show me It when it's out, from the tube I can say either a spaghetti worm, tube-constructing amphipod, hair worm or featherduster. All of which are harmless/beneficial

It's s none of the above.
It's a Phyllochaetopterus.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Nov 19, 2023

Scroll down to "Worms with 2 tentacles"

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/index.htm

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 19, 2023

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal said:
It's s none of the above.
It's a Phyllochaetopterus.

I don't think we can really tell what it is from just the tube

Sand tube constructing featherduster behind my trachy, and spaghetti worms do build very similar tubes. Though that definitely is a possibility

FernBluffReef · Nov 19, 2023

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal said:
Scroll down to "Worms with 2 tentacles"

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/index.htm

Thanks for the ID. Sure looks like that. I’ve yet to see its tentacles yet but being clear and where in the tank not all that easy to see. Sounds like it’s ok but can easily get out of control?

Thanks again

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Nov 19, 2023

vellingapa said:
Thanks for the ID. Sure looks like that. I’ve yet to see its tentacles yet but being clear and where in the tank not all that easy to see. Sounds like it’s ok but can easily get out of control?

Thanks again

I have a bunch in my tank and they don't bother anything. If I see a tube on the sand bed, I usually remove it due to aesthetics but otherwise I let them be. They're actually great for cleaning up food the fish don't eat

FernBluffReef · Nov 20, 2023

Finally caught in action today at dinner time. Sorry for the poor picture, I still need to get a filter. Looks like it has a long single transparent tentacle/tounge/whatever you call it. Definitely can see how it builds the sand covered tube as the tentacle brings back and.

Reefering1 · Nov 20, 2023

Umm, can't see anything...

FernBluffReef · Nov 20, 2023

Yeah a filter is on my list. Figured if I adjusted the lights (Red Sea) they turn off and on he’d be gone. The worms casing is in the middle of the pic 1/3rd of the way from the bottom. The tounge appears clear/ translucent and several times longer than the tube itself. Camera filter is coming up soon as iPhones really take bad reef pictures. Sorry about that

Reefering1 · Nov 20, 2023

When in doubt, pull it out...

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 20, 2023

Reefering1 said:
When in doubt, pull it out...

Noo, could be a spaghetti worm, wait. Let me get a photo of mine

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 20, 2023

vellingapa said:
Finally caught in action today at dinner time. Sorry for the poor picture, I still need to get a filter. Looks like it has a long single transparent tentacle/tounge/whatever you call it. Definitely can see how it builds the sand covered tube as the tentacle brings back and.

Look like this?

FernBluffReef · Nov 21, 2023

Reefkeepers Archive said:
Look like this?

Looks about the same save only one tentacle. Yours has two or there’s two worms

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 21, 2023

vellingapa said:
Looks about the same save only one tentacle. Yours has two or there’s two worms

They always have more than one arm, though it could have lost the others or not have put then out, can you see if you can get a better photo?

FernBluffReef · Nov 21, 2023

Reefkeepers Archive said:
They always have more than one arm, though it could have lost the others or not have put then out, can you see if you can get a better photo?

Bit better attached. First two times only one tentacle but after turning lights off and on a second one came out