Hitchhiker ID

[holdthecoffee]

There’s an extremely small pin like hole in my hermit crabs shell and sticking out of it are these brown hair like projections. They sway back and forth. Here is an image 500x. You can notice them with the naked eye if you look hard enough.

 

[holdthecoffee]

Googling, I'm starting to think it's a spionidae or chaetopteridae.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Spinoid worm. They send out those strings known as palps in search of food. Also harmless can irritate neighboring coral. You can either place coral putty or gel glue over the hole to put it to an end

 

[king aiptasia]

Spinoid worm. They send out those strings known as palps in search of food. Also harmless can irritate neighboring coral. You can either place coral putty or gel glue over the hole to put it to an end

i second this identification, except the kill it part, they are quite friendly to have around

 

[vetteguy53081]

i second this identification, except the kill it part, they are quite friendly to have around

Friendly yes, but if the palps are annoying nearby coral (causing them to close up or stealing food)- this is the option.

 

[king aiptasia]

Friendly yes, but if the palps are annoying nearby coral (causing them to close up or stealing food)- this is the option.

he says it is on a hermit crab shell