I just saw a worm. A big one. What is it?

[Jonas Bergkvist]

So as usual i stare into the aquarium admiring it, and this time a saw a worm like think that i think is at least 10 cm long. It's not a bristle worm, and i hope not a one of those horrible Bobbit worms.

This one had maybe 8 arms near its head and the hands was long and searching for food on the rock. The worm had thorn like things on it to. It lives in a hole in the cave and it behaves just like a usual worm you would find in the ground

What is this thing? Should i try to get it out? I better put on a pair of gloves and a bullet proof vest if i need to get Godzilla out of my aquarium :/

Maybe i should add that i saw it when my lights was set to dusk, so it could be that it is out when it is dark?

 

[itsken37]

sounds like a spaghetti or bristle to me but I cannot see anything in the photos

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Google images of medusa worm and spaghetti worm. Then let us know which you think it is please.

 

[itsken37]

Sorry yes I ment medusa instead of bristle even though they look nothing alike :/

 

[Jonas Bergkvist]

Google images of medusa worm and spaghetti worm. Then let us know which you think it is please.

Thank you, the closest i get is a medusa worm - but still they don't look the same because the Medusa has a round shell body, and my has a snail-shape flattish body and soft skin. With no hard shell so to speak. And i could not find any pics on the internet that the medusa had long arms with hands on them.

I also Googled nudibranchs and they don't look the same at all. Same as sea slugs, its not that.

 

[Jonas Bergkvist]

I think i found a pretty similar picture on the internet. It's a sea cucumber like in the picture, but mine is beige to the color and the picture doesn't show any tentacles by its head. But i think this is the closest i get.

 

[elysics]

There are many different sea cucumbers, medusa worms are sea cucumbers too btw. Most of them have those tentacles

 

[Reefer Reboot]

It's hard to tell by the pictures but by your description try looking up
Black long sea cucumber
Holothuria leucospilota

 

[Jonas Bergkvist]

Here is an update for you. I found him early in the morning, and he has grown quite a bit to. I estimate he is close to 15 cm.

He tried to get into a hole in the rock, but he was to fat and half of him was outside Check the video below. Next morning he was gone, and i don't know where he lives now.

 

[Reefer Reboot]

These pictures don't look like the first pictures. Are you sure these pictures are of the same animal? Could it be you have more than one?

 

[LAX Noob Reef]

I know it's filter eater, but will your tank fit it?

 

[TnFishwater98]

Did it look like this?

 

[elysics]

These pictures don't look like the first pictures. Are you sure these pictures are of the same animal? Could it be you have more than one?

on the second image in the first post you can see the mouth tentacles if you look closely, its the same animal just bigger and better fed

 

[Reefer Reboot]

LOL, maybe I need a new computer monitor!;Playful First post looks blurry and a different color. Just checking.

 

[Jonas Bergkvist]

These pictures don't look like the first pictures. Are you sure these pictures are of the same animal? Could it be you have more than one?

Yes, now that you mention it, they don't really look the same do they? Hmm yikes i have TWO! I do think they are harmless in the sense that they won't eat any of my other inhabitants, but what would happen if that big one dies? Will he nuke my tank?!

 

[Jonas Bergkvist]

Did it look like this?

No, not at all. But jesus christ what is that worm thing you posted? Is it a Fire worm or something? If i ever find one of those in my tank i'm putting on a bullet proof vest and asbestos gloves and pulling that thing out of my aquarium

 

[Jonas Bergkvist]

on the second image in the first post you can see the mouth tentacles if you look closely, its the same animal just bigger and better fed

Yes, but now that @Reefer Reboot asked me if it was the same animal or not, i'm not convinced it's the same one actually.... i guess we'll see in time. If i get lucky someday maybe i see both of them poking about in my aquarium

 

[elysics]

Huh, in that case, double the trouble, double the fun

 

[LegalReefer]

Here is an update for you. I found him early in the morning, and he has grown quite a bit to. I estimate he is close to 15 cm.

He tried to get into a hole in the rock, but he was to fat and half of him was outside Check the video below. Next morning he was gone, and i don't know where he lives now.

It looks like a sea cucumber of some sort to me! They can have “hand like” mouthparts they use to filter out food from either the water or the substrate. Very cool addition to your reef!

 

[Reefer Reboot]

;Watching