Red hair worms or algae ? Any suggestions?

[levi farias]

I have these… things seem to be active at night towards bottom of tank on some rocks.
almost like red stringy hair . I guess it could be red hair algae but it looks different. Any help?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I'm having a hard time determining what you're asking about. Can you circle it in the photo?

 

[levi farias]

Ok here’s one

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Does it respond to food? Most likely a hair worm, but see if it "grabs" food when you add it.

Algae doesn't generally only show up at night.

 

[homer1475]

Almost looks to be strings of cyanobacteria to me. Odd part is cyano typically grows when lights are on, and disappears when the lights go off.

 

[WVNed]

tendrils of a spaghetti worm. Often seen in reef ranks.

 

[levi farias]

ok any thought on getting rid? control?

 

[afrokobe]

no need, its a good cuc

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

tendrils of a spaghetti worm. Often seen in reef ranks.

Hair worm. Spaghetti worms are white

 

[WVNed]

Hair worm. Spaghetti worms are white

They come in several colors, red and yellow are common. I have never seen a white one in my tank. There are also green and brown ones.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

They come in several colors, red and yellow are common. I have never seen a white one in my tank. There are also green and brown ones.

Again for the people in the back...
That is a HAIR WORM. I don't care if a bunch of folks have started calling them spaghetti worms; spaghetti worms are a different animal.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

@WVNed , I'll take Ronald Shimek's word over yours...

"The name "spaghetti worm" predates the reef aquarium hobby by several decades. In all cases, prior to recent usage in the reef hobby, this term refers to the worms in the family Terebellidae. The terebellids live in tubes in sediments, rocks, or debris, and do not normally leave the tubes. The only parts of the worm visible on the substrate surface are typically the white to slightly pinkish feeding tentacles elaborated from the head. The tentacles from larger worms are about the same size and dimensions as angel hair pasta, and give these animals their common name."

"Recently, in the reef aquarium hobby another type of worm has been being called a "spaghetti" worm. These are "hair worms" in the family Cirratulidae. Cirratulids have a much more uniform body than do the terebellids. Each segment looks much like the next, and while a head is present, the remainder of the worm's body is not divided into sections. There is neither a thorax nor an abdomen. Additionally, the cirratulids found in aquaria do not live in tubes but are found living free in the sediments below the surface. These are animals that may reach lengths of a couple inches and are, at most, about a sixteenth of an inch in diameter."

"Unfortunately, the cirratulids have also acquired the name of spaghetti worms. This was primarily due to some dealers who have incorrectly identified cirratulids and sold them as terebellids, and called them by the old common name of spaghetti worms. In addition to being quite dissimilar in appearance, they do quite different things in aquaria and in nature."


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php

 

[Sean Clark]

I'll just argue that because we cannot see the body of the worm in the OP's photo, that we can not make a clear identification.
Here is an article showing the difference:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php

 

[Sean Clark]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php

lol I just posted the same link...

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I'll just argue that because we cannot see the body of the worm in the OP's photo, that we can not make a clear identification.
Here is an article showing the difference:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/index.php

As you can read in the article, spaghetti worms are not red.

 

[Sean Clark]

From the article, spaghetti worms are not red.

No, from the article Spaghetti and Hair Worms... What's in a Name?
Either way, Good guy. No worries. Leave them be.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I too believe spaghetti worm which rarely show its body and eats detritus and uneaten food.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

No, from the article Spaghetti and Hair Worms... What's in a Name?
Either way, Good guy. No worries. Leave them be.

I was saying that, from the article we both posted, spaghetti worms are identified as white, not red.

 

[Sean Clark]

I was saying that, from the article we both posted, spaghetti worms are identified as white, not red.

I understand your frustration is with the improper classification of most of these animals and not what color it is (unless I completely missed the mark here, which I have been know to do). Clearly we were both familiar with the same article on the subject. I wouldn't ever count mother nature out though.
A quick google search for "red terebellidae" produced some strong contenders.

 

[WVNed]

I just keep fish. I am not a biologist
If I search for spaghetti worm in google, pictures come up of what are called spaghetti worms by me. some are red, gold, white, brown and green. They have been called that for 10 years or more.


Go argue with them.
If you win get back to me.
The first hit for image spaghetti worm

I always figured saying spaghetti worm was like saying pods. It is actually a common name for several different kinds with a similar appearance to the eye.

I have never heard them called hair worms before either.

I make no claim to being correct. I am running with the herd here.