Worm id help

[southd14]

Hello oh might R2R community.

I was hoping for a little help identifying this worm. I found it when I saw the remains of what I thought was my porcelain crab. Turns out, I must have had a hitchhiked one because mine is still alive.

I was also wondering if the other pictures might be aiptasia. I got the rock from the gulf and thought there wasn’t any down there.

 

[DED65]

The worm looks more like a brittle starfish to me. I would also say Aiptasia, but don’t quote me, others will chime in!

 

[nasiayam]

I also have similar problem, do you guys think those tube thing in between the zoas are pests? is yes what are those? should i remove them? thanks

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Are you sure the "remains" of the porcelain crab was not a molt?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I was also wondering if the other pictures might be aiptasia. I got the rock from the gulf and thought there wasn’t any down there.

As mentioned, the worm looks like a brittle starfish arm to me; the "Aiptasia" is likely not actually an Aiptasia species - it looks like it may be a "pest anemone" of some variety though (albeit a pretty one), and pretty much all "pest anemones" are known in the hobby as Aiptasia (they're rarely actually Aiptasia species though).

I also have similar problem, do you guys think those tube thing in between the zoas are pests? is yes what are those? should i remove them? thanks

Those are either hydroid or jellyfish polyps; it's generally recommended to remove them as some species pack a potent sting and can sting corals and such in the tank - some species may also spread invasively.

That said, other species seem to be harmless - I'm not sure where yours would fall along the spectrum, but removal would be the safest choice.

 

[southd14]

Are you sure the "remains" of the porcelain crab was not a molt?

That’s definitely possible. I didn’t think about that. I thought they would hide for a while after molting, but it was just a day or two before I saw it around again.

I’m very new so I’m figuring this out as I go. This would be my first molt

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

That’s definitely possible. I didn’t think about that. I thought they would hide for a while after molting, but it was just a day or two before I saw it around again.

I’m very new so I’m figuring this out as I go. This would be my first molt

1-2 days is a normal length. A molt will obviously be empty, a carcass would be full of the crab.

I also agree that the "worm" is the arm of a brittle star fish.

 

[southd14]

1-2 days is a normal length. A molt will obviously be empty, a carcass would be full of the crab.

I also agree that the "worm" is the arm of a brittle star fish.

then it was definitely a molt. That makes me feel better.

From what I’ve read, brittle star fish get pretty large. I only have a 20 gallon so definitely too small. Are there easy ways to trap these guys?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

then it was definitely a molt. That makes me feel better.

From what I’ve read, brittle star fish get pretty large. I only have a 20 gallon so definitely too small. Are there easy ways to trap these guys?

There are tons of different brittle starfish species - yours may be what's called a micro brittle starfish, which would stay tiny.