Creepy worms on Zoas...

Vahanyos · Jan 13, 2017

Hey guys,

Can somebody please help me identify these worm like things in my Polyps? They are opening up just fine during the day with my lights on... but I just noticed them... should I be worried?

Also, is that a nudibranch at the very bottom of the polyps? I tried to do some research on it and I came to that conclusion. Either that or some kind of sponge? Thanks!

Tori · Jan 13, 2017

Not sure what the worms are. If they move around a lot it could be a spaghetti worm. Also that thing on top of one of the polyps on the right looks more like a nudibranch to me but it could just be the skirt sticking out. Hard to tell from the photo.

Vahanyos · Jan 13, 2017

Tori said:
Not sure what the worms are. If they move around a lot it could be a spaghetti worm. Also that thing on top of one of the polyps on the right looks more like a nudibranch to me but it could just be the skirt sticking out. Hard to tell from the photo.

I'll post better ones soon of the branch looking things...

The worms don't move around at all actually... I'll observe them closer but they just seem to be stuck on the polyps..

Vahanyos · Jan 13, 2017

Tori said:
Not sure what the worms are. If they move around a lot it could be a spaghetti worm. Also that thing on top of one of the polyps on the right looks more like a nudibranch to me but it could just be the skirt sticking out. Hard to tell from the photo.

Alright this is probably the best I could've taken of that nudibranch stuff... and the worms on the polyps are definitely not moving. They're just growing on it

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 13, 2017

they look like lil feather dusters. But Id keep a close eye on a nudi..

Tori · Jan 14, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
they look like lil feather dusters. But Id keep a close eye on a nudi..

Good call! I was thinking they were too thin at first but now that I look at it again, they are definitely feather dusters. You see the feather like part sticking out on a couple when you enlarge the photo.

Vahanyos said:
Alright this is probably the best I could've taken of that nudibranch stuff... and the worms on the polyps are definitely not moving. They're just growing on it

I think that may actually be a sponge of some sort if it's always in that same spot and never moves.

Tahoe61 · Jan 14, 2017

Does not look like a nudibranch to me at all. Possible sponge or coral hitch-hiker, either way it would not concern me.

Vahanyos · Jan 14, 2017

Cool thanks guys, yea it's in the same spot so I'm going with sponge too.

Lionfish Lair · Jan 20, 2017

There's a zoa-eating nudi on there and I also see a digitate hydroid.

There's something odd about that blob. Can you possibly get another picture?

Tori · Jan 20, 2017

Lionfish Lair said:
There's a zoa-eating nudi on there and I also see a digitate hydroid.

There's something odd about that blob. Can you possibly get another picture?

Wow, that's practically a super power! I didn't notice the hydroid at all. Is the nudi the greenish thing towards the middle right on the first photo?