Jokareefer
New Member
Any ideas whether this is good or bad? I'm looking at other threads and not seeing anything similar.
Red long Good worm/ bad worm? Help please
- Thread starter Jokareefer
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ThisIsTheWay
New Member
It's hard to tell from your picture; however, because it's covered in what looks like sand it makes me wonder if it's a type of spaghetti worm. If so, my understanding is that they are reef-safe and a beneficial part of the ecosystem in our tanks.
Are those bits of sand loose or are they stuck together like it's built itself a hard cocoon/tube?
Are those bits of sand loose or are they stuck together like it's built itself a hard cocoon/tube?
OP
OP
Jokareefer
New Member
Thank you, more like a cocoon.
OP
OP
Jokareefer
New Member
This is slightly better picture now it's come out of its cocoon.
kevgib67
10K Club member
A type of peanut worm? Not an exact match, @ISpeakForTheSeas ?This is slightly better picture now it's come out of its cocoon.
This one's an oddball (not surprising given the OP's in Australia), but my first thoughts would be either a Capitellid worm or a marine Oligochaete (a marine "Earthworm") of some variety. Neither of these are common hitchhikers, so I'm not used to ID'ing them quite yet; Capitellids would be harmless/beneficial, and - to my knowledge (again, I'm not very familiar with them yet) - any possible Oligochaetes likely would be as well.
OP, any chance you have a microscope available you could search this worm for bristles with? Capitellids typically have really short little bundles of bristles; Oligochaetes may or may not have any bristles, and if the bristles are present may be only on the top, only on the bottom, both, neither, etc.; the bristles may be long, short, etc. (so these are a lot more varied with the bristles).
OP
OP
Jokareefer
New Member
Unfortunately I don't have a microscope at this stage. It's difficult to see on the photo but it appeared to have bristles along one side, bottom I think. I have kept it out of my tank, but I noticed another along the sand bed. I lost two zombie snails a few days ago so not sure if they were from that. Hopefully it's nothing sinister, I'll keep this one out. Everything else seems super happy. I really appreciate all of your input and help!
