KP Aquatic Hitchhiker ID

HTXReefer · Mar 13, 2021

I have 30lbs of KP Aquatic live rock curing in a 29 gallon tank. Quite a few critters in the order I recognize like brittle stars, pencil urchins, peppermint shrimp, etc. Cam anyone ID this one? Not sure if it’s good or not but it has sharp spines.

Fish Think Pink · Mar 13, 2021

HTXReefer said:
I have 30lbs of KP Aquatic live rock curing in a 29 gallon tank. Quite a few critters in the order I recognize like brittle stars, pencil urchins, peppermint shrimp, etc. Cam anyone ID this one? Not sure if it’s good or not but it has sharp spines.

Might that be a bristle worm? I've never seen one that large, and out of water that seems extra'bristle-y' but there are many types. My gut feels what you have shown is bad, but lets see what others say

This was quite an education for me - I had left hobby for years and when I came back, what you have is what USED TO BE "live rock" and today what people call "live rock" is so very different - but safer. Their website is interesting: https://www.kpaquatics.com/product/aquacultured-live-rock/

Eagle_Steve · Mar 13, 2021

@KJ little help here please sir. I for the life of me cannot remember this critters name.

HTXReefer · Mar 13, 2021

It doesn’t appear to be a bristle worm. It is more of a spine than a bristle.

dvgyfresh · Mar 13, 2021

Looks like a brittle stars legs that got cut off?

Eagle_Steve · Mar 13, 2021

dvgyfresh said:
Looks like a brittle stars legs that got cut off?

It could be that as well. I know there is a type of worm that is similar, so KJ may be able to chime in and ID it.

@HTXReefer can you turn it over and see if you see if it has the little feet like a starfish? If it does then @dvgyfresh hit the nail on the head. If not @KJ should be able to ID it.