ID please... what is on this frag plug?

[CrimsonTide]

I noticed under my Kenya Tree frag plug there is some fan looking thing coming out of a tube. It is encrusted on the frag plug and if you squirter water at the thing it does retract into the tube and come back out later.

Any input is nice and appreciated. I am not used to hitch hikers. I have an idea what it is but would love input. Thanks!

 

[Soren]

It looks like some type of fan worm or feather duster worm. If so, they are harmless filter feeders.

 

[CrimsonTide]

It looks like some type of fan worm or feather duster worm. If so, they are harmless filter feeders.

That is what I thought but wanted others inputs. I have had that plug for over a month and just noticed it. Thanks

 

[bday1335]

Those are spiroid worms

 

[lelandmarine]

Here’s a link about common hitchhikers

Common hitchhiker guide from R2R

What is that!! A R2R guide to common new tank hitchhikers.

One of the greatest things about starting a reef tank is getting your live rock in and admiring all the diversity within it. The rock comes to life different creatures. This is a guide that I, along with a very well known critter identifier @KJ , have put together for the new reefer on what...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Gtinnel]

I agree that it's probably a feather duster. I'd be more concerned with having the kenya tree in my tank than the feather duster. They grow quick and start dropping babies that you have to remove. I put one in my tank and wish I wouldn't have.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Those are spiroid worms

I think you are right. I looked them up and that seems to be exactly what they are thank you.

 

[Gtinnel]

I think you are right. I looked them up and that seems to be exactly what they are thank you.

Wait are we talking about the little white things on the side of the plug, or the blurry thing on the top of the plug?

 

[CrimsonTide]

Wait are we talking about the little white things on the side of the plug, or the blurry thing on the top of the plug?

The white things and the tube worm looking thing. Not the kenya tree on the plug

 

[Soren]

The white things and the tube worm looking thing. Not the kenya tree on the plug

I agree that the small white spirals on the side of the plug are spirorbid worms.

 

[CrimsonTide]

I agree that the small white spirals on the side of the plug are spirorbid worms.

Do we know if there is something that eats these if they get to plague stage later. They aren't bad at this point.

 

[Gtinnel]

The white things and the tube worm looking thing. Not the kenya tree on the plug

Oh ok. I see the kenya tree, what looks like a feather duster below that, and then spirorbid worms on the side of the plug. None of those are anything to be concerned about.

 

[PeterB113]

+1 spirorbid worms

 

[Soren]

Do we know if there is something that eats these if they get to plague stage later. They aren't bad at this point.

With a bit of research, it looks like the quick answer is that wrasses (especially sixline wrasse) eat them, as well as hermit crabs and peppermint shrimp.

 

[CrimsonTide]

With a bit of research, it looks like the quick answer is that wrasses (especially sixline wrasse) eat them, as well as hermit crabs and peppermint shrimp.

Thanks. I had planned a 6line later downtrend road possibly so if it gets bad maybe he will be the answer. But from what looked up they don't seem to be harmful in the tank. So thats good.

 

[Soren]

Thanks. I had planned a 6line later downtrend road possibly so if it gets bad maybe he will be the answer. But from what looked up they don't seem to be harmful in the tank. So thats good.

Yes, they seem to usually not be a problem, though some have had explosions in population. It sounds like most people with the problem of too many had almost no success in limiting population with a sixline wrasse, hermit crabs or peppermint shrimp, though. Some success seems to come from the introduction of asterina starfish (which can become a problem in large populations themselves) or bumblebee snails (which can also be destructive to other invertebrates typically desired in a reef tank).

I know they are in my current FOWLR and are not a problem, so it seems reasonable to agree with your plan of not trying to eliminate them unless they become a problem.