Worm ID

[mickeyfish]

This worm is emerging from the base of a coral and seems to be in a sand “tube.” Is this is a spaghetti worm?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180414/91de7cf581dd6c0c97d4b48755eff95b.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180414/9475b688d66f6d97bfa62906eed802d8.jpg


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[billdogg]

Not a worm - common micro brittle star - beneficial part of your CUC

[mickeyfish]

Not a worm - common micro brittle star - beneficial part of your CUC



Wow really? Sometimes the many tentacles extend 8-10 inches so I assumed a worm. What is the tube like structure?

Thanks!


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[mcgyvr]

Actually I think it is a spaghetti worm..
The picture is #1 fuzzy and #2 turn down your blues next time please...
Proper color rendition is imperative to proper identification pictures and may times turning down the blue will also allow your camera to focus better..

But what I see is likely to be a spaghetti worm..
It has the "stripes" that are common with brittle stars but spaghetti worms can have that too..

A better picture would help confirm that but I'm 80% positive on that so far..

[mickeyfish]

Actually I think it is a spaghetti worm..
The picture is #1 fuzzy and #2 turn down your blues next time please...
Proper color rendition is imperative to proper identification pictures and may times turning down the blue will also allow your camera to focus better..

But what I see is likely to be a spaghetti worm..
It has the "stripes" that are common with brittle stars but spaghetti worms can have that too..

A better picture would help confirmu that but I'm 80% positive on that so far..



Thanks mcgyvr. I tried for a better picture now that the daylights are coming on, but unfortunately that is when it retreats into its tube. Some pics of the tube below and I will try to grab better shots when I can.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180414/6d023e6fa5cfd4ac4cf2e8f67bf2b188.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180414/34a0e5b9e3ac187814ff12499f8ead8b.jpg


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[billdogg]

Yeah - I didn't see the tube when I first looked - I'm gonna change my vote to spaghetti worm as well.

[mickeyfish]

So the tube is really growing and making its way down the rocks. I’d say it’s grown an inch or maybe more this week.

Could this work be partially feeding on the leather it is attached to? It has been splitting off at the rate of about one piece a week. I have 8 frags in my tank from it now from the last couple of months.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180421/f15a645e71bcbca185025e9f045f1630.jpg


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[devimik]

I would concur that it's a Spaghetti Worm - detritus feeder, so it would not be feeding on the leather.