Interesting worm-like pest. Anyone got an ID?

Baugan

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 22, 2021
Messages
4
Reaction score
1
Location
Surprise
What state or country do you live in
Arizona
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Found in my sand bed. Never seen anything like it before.

IMG_7966.jpeg
 
The little bristle worm there the extra-long bristles is probably a Syllid worm:
Based primarily on the long, hair-like chaetae (bristles) sticking off the sides, I’d guess a Syllid worm (taxonomic family Syllidae) of some kind. If it is a Syllid worm, then there’s a good chance it’s safe (and good CUC). However, some Syllids are known to eat sponges, tunicates, and - reportedly from some hobbyists - soft corals. The eating of soft corals is firmly disputed though, as many people (primarily from several years back, when Syllid worms were apparently more common hitchhikers) also report having them without issues even if the worms crawl over their soft corals regularly.

So, it’s probably safe/beneficial, but you can always sump it to be cautious, you could isolate it and offer it a cheap soft coral or two in addition to some fish food to see if it’s coral safe.
Some context for their diet (the paper linked below is “The diversity in diets of Syllidae (Annelida: Polychaeta)” by the università di lecce (the University of Salento).
https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/289130.pdf
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT MOST OFTEN MAKES YOU REACH FOR YOUR CAMERA AROUND THE REEF?

  • Coral behavior (feeding, extension, or movement)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • New growth or a color change

    Votes: 2 18.2%
  • Unusual fish behavior

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • The whole tank looking especially good

    Votes: 4 36.4%
  • Something I want to document in case it changes

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • A funny or unexpected interaction

    Votes: 2 18.2%
  • I usually put the camera/phone down and just watch

    Votes: 1 9.1%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 2 18.2%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new