Possible hydroid? Worm?

[Dr_Orpheus]

Hey all. I've been doing this for a long time, but the hobby continues to surprise with new creatures I haven't seen before. There are 3 groups of them. One isn't pictured, one is a small cluster on the top of a rock, and the other looks like it's embedded into my blue ridge coral?! For awhile I didn't notice them or pay them any mind, but I kind of want an ID in case they're some sort of hydroid that's slowly making it's rounds through my small 13g. Most hydroids have some sort of stinging point on their hairs, but they have embedded into the rock where they are and they don't, they just look like little hairs popping out. Any help identifying these will be great. Thanks all!

Ps pay no mind to the seemingly upset looking blue ridge coral. Whatever these are aren't damaging it (although its polyps are rarely out), I just tossed it around when rearranging things yesterday.

 

[BryanM]

I'm not sure, but looking at hydroids pics, doesn't really look the same.... too spiky.

 

[Dr_Orpheus]

I'm not sure, but looking at hydroids pics, doesn't really look the same.... too spiky.

That's what I was thinking as well. It does seem like they have two, maybe three clear hairs per one. I find it weird they've embedded into the blue ridge if they are indeed the same thing. I haven't added anything in awhile either, so whatever it is it's not very invasive, but still a bit worrisome as I've never really noticed them before in the hobby!

 

[Nihil]

Guessing boring spionid worms.

 

[Dr_Orpheus]

Guessing boring spionid worms.

Thank you! I'm going to guess them too. Manual removal might be the best way. I put a peppermint shrimp and a gold coral banded in recently, so it's possible they'll eat some, but I might want to remove as much as I can myself. Thank you again!

 

[Dr_Orpheus]

For what it's worth and anyone coming across this... Coral boring spionid worms have been eradicated as far as I can tell through drastic (but not nearly as drastic as some stories you see on this forum) removal processes. Largely, the removal of 75% of my blue ridge coral, the removal and drying/killing/cleaning of a few infected rocks i didn't want to chip away at one by one, manual removal by chipping off small pieces of infected rock, and thorough sand sifting of places I don't normally get to more often where I would tend to find more of those buggers pop up. All the while spending time every day examining/shifting live rock to find more I never found before.

I also have a bunch of rubble in the filtration that WAS amazing, but I killed/cleaned that too and cleaned out the filtration of my Fluval Evo thoroughly without using any chemicals, just some hot RO water and wiping/scrubbing. The tank, while still healthy, hasn't been the same since I killed this rock, but I could take absolutely zero chances. In addition I re added a peppermint shrimp that died during this process (and noticed an increase in population after his disappearance) a couple blue legged hermits, and a gold coral banded shrimp. All perfect for munching on small worms in case I missed any. In addition the resident Hector's goby which may also help eat them if he gets to them, I added a possum wrasse which was the only micro predator I could think of that would work with another horizontally striped, elongated body shaped fish in a small tank (if you know you know).

All of this has changed my small 13g tank drastically but it's way better than the alternative. I have phosphate issues most likely now and they'll take awhile to get situated thanks to my destruction of and probably hasty re addition of very mature pukani rubble and my larger than usual water changes.

If anyone else has these guys in a smaller system all hope isn't lost. You just need diligence and a group of creatures to tear them up if they can get to them. Good luck to anyone who reads this! You got this.