What is this guy?

jrogers3105 · 2026-08-29T05:15:16-0400

20260829_021309_4C1CBC32-E2E4-4D14-8799-47DAF6620BBB.png

just noticed this guy growing in my hammer torch, seems to be a very red color and it seem very much so alive as in it retreated away when i flashed the light at it

jrogers3105 · 2026-08-29T05:16:59-0400

EnterName · 2026-08-29T06:17:24-0400

Tube-building annelid worm. I would say Serpulidae or Sabellidae depending on what the tube is made out of. They can get quite numerous but most species are harmless filter feeders that don't cause any issues. Yours is located a bit unfortunately, but that's all. If you have the feeling it irritates the coral you can scrape it off without issues.

jrogers3105 · 2026-08-29T06:21:28-0400

i haven't seen any reduction in polyp extension yet but will this worm keep getting bigger with time? is the best course of action to just get him off now? if so what's the best method? i would think it's a iffy area for superglue, are these guys easy to scrape off with a fingernail?

EnterName · 2026-08-29T06:52:59-0400

jrogers3105 said:
i haven't seen any reduction in polyp extension yet but will this worm keep getting bigger with time? is the best course of action to just get him off now? if so what's the best method? i would think it's a iffy area for superglue, are these guys easy to scrape off with a fingernail?

The final size of these guys will depend on the species and how good this spot actually is for catching food. Most of them appear to stay below 1 inch in total tube length.

If your coral doesn't seem to care you can leave it in my opinion. The removal won't be any more difficult if it grows a bit. It might even be easier.

If you still want to get rid of it:

The tube might be made out of calcium carbonate (in that case it's a Serpulidae btw.) so while it's possible to get it off by hand you are risking to push a sharp and hard crust under your fingernail which is very unpleasant (happened to me a few times

). So if you aren't lazy like me, I would suggest using something made out of metal to get the job done. Anything that is small enough to not hurt the coral in the process will do.

If the tube is sitting on coral tissue you don't want to scrape it off. In that case you will need to use glue very carefully to close the tube without getting anything on the coral tissue.