Identification

[bigreentractor]

Can anyone help identify what is growing on my rocks in these pictures?

The second one shows a cobweb like systems that appears to be coming from at least the one in this picture.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1687&pictureid=35102

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1687&pictureid=35101


thanks

[StephLionfish]

I don't know the scientific name for them, but they are tube worms of some sort. They release the web to catch debris, then bring it in to eat what they caught. They can irritate corals...and once you have a million ( like I do ) they are annoying. You can just scrape them off if you don't want them.

[jarrod13]

Be careful they are razor sharp... Trust me ;-)

[187james]

My best guess is Terebellidae, aka spaghetti worms, If the cobweb like stuff is coming from the tube worm then its their feeding tentacle.

I am in no way any kind of expert here.


If they are Terebellidae, then they are reef safe and will help filter your tank

[namxas]

Vermatid gastropods. As mentioned, the "cobwebs" are actually how they snare food from the water column. They're harmless unless you have a large one or lots of them in a reef setting, as they can p*ss off your corals (also mentioned by Steph).

[bigreentractor]

Thanks for the info everyone! Looks like the 6 line wrasse I was going to get may help with these guys as well.