Peanut worm or ?

[Smiles1969]

I think maybe I was in the wrong forum yesterday. I think this is a peanut worm but I'm not sure and being back into the hobby for only a few months I need help. This worm is small, clear body, small white spots, has introverts or something that are finger-like around one end of its body that it picked up some debris while keeping the other part attached to the rock. Then is shortened itself into a more normalish type worm. It was very sticky when I moved it to the smaller tank. I removed one from my tank and put it into a smaller tank but I think I have several of these crawling around. Are they safe? Should I get something that eats them? How do I control them?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[Soren]

@Smiles1969
It looks like a type of Synaptid "Medusa worm" to me.
Here is a link to FloridaPets where they are offered for sale.
Beyond that, I don't know much about them.

 

[Smiles1969]

@Soren Thank you so much! I think this might be what I have. Now to figure out if I want to keep them. I don't have any corals and probably won't have them in this small tank, but quick research shows they don't particularly harm corals. And they're good clean-up crew with the exception of, if they get distressed, they can send off a toxin that can kill my fish.

 

[Soren]

@Soren Thank you so much! I think this might be what I have. Now to figure out if I want to keep them. I don't have any corals and probably won't have them in this small tank, but quick research shows they don't particularly harm corals. And they're good clean-up crew with the exception of, if they get distressed, they can send off a toxin that can kill my fish.

From some quick reading after your inquiry, it seems that the toxin risk is insignificant unless they are very large or very abundant and a mass die-off occurs.
I found several articles on R2R and different forums that seem to consider them beneficial and low-risk.

Of course, it is up to you whether or not you want to take the risk with your tank. The size of tank definitely could impact your decision (the larger the tank, the greater the dilution of toxins).

 

[Smiles1969]

@Soren My tank is only 36 gallons and I think I've seen at least 3 separate individuals which means there will be more, more than likely. I like the idea of having them and I don't have expensive fish but still. I currently have 3 blue-green chromis, 3 fire fish, 2 turbo snails and 2 white-legged crabs. This will remain a FOWLR tank as I don't have a skimmer or lighting that corals would necessitate nor the time, energy, or desire to upgrade. This is just a small aquatic habitat for enjoyment's sake. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

 

[Soren]

@Soren My tank is only 36 gallons and I think I've seen at least 3 separate individuals which means there will be more, more than likely. I like the idea of having them and I don't have expensive fish but still. I currently have 3 blue-green chromis, 3 fire fish, 2 turbo snails and 2 white-legged crabs. This will remain a FOWLR tank as I don't have a skimmer or lighting that corals would necessitate nor the time, energy, or desire to upgrade. This is just a small aquatic habitat for enjoyment's sake. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

If it was my tank, I probably would not be too worried about it from what I read about them.
The chance of hundreds of these sea cucumbers (technically not worms) dying at once without the other inhabitants also dying from the same cause before toxins are even present seems a low probability.