Worm ID

[JoJosReef]

Anyone able to ID this worm? I caught two of them with a turkey baster while they were swimming in the water column (wavy motion) when I hit the lights. Think they were making their way back to the rocks.

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Shared album from Joseph 📸

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Second video if it helps:

New video · Saturday, Mar 12, 2022 🎬

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Thanks!

 

[blaxsun]

I can tell you what they're not - they're not bristle worms.

 

[ying yang]

Some kind of eunice worm with them tentacles/ grabbers at the head ( sorry not sure correct name for them )

 

[ying yang]

Bobbit Worm - Eunice Aphroditois, The King of Polychaete Marine Worms

The ultimate guide to Bobbit Worms, Eunice Aphroditoisde. Learn how these Ambush Predators eat, where they live, and see how they hunt and kill their prey!

arcreef.com

353 eunice worms and not all eunice worms are " bobbit worms" first part this article about bobbit worms then goes on to describe about other eunice worms,some eat algae and the likes and some eat coral and fishes,some grow large while some remain relatively small

 

[JoJosReef]

Thanks! I suspected at least one Eunice in the tank since I occasionally see the whiskers poking out of the rocks. Odd that I'd get two of them swimming on the same night. Probably more in there...

 

[damsels are not mean]

That is a dorvilleid worm I believe. Basically a somewhat rare (in our tanks) worm in the bristleworm (polychaete) family. My understanding is that they are mostly detritivores like the standard bristleworms everyone has.

I've seen people claim they are algae eaters on forums but as with all "clean up crew" claims I only trust those that I have observed myself or seen video of. Since I have never had these nor have I seen some hard evidence that they specifically eat any kind of algae, I have to default to thinking they are just another detritivore.

I have not seen any reports of them eating coral or anything else, so I don't think they are dangerous to the reef, and can be just treated like another bristleworm with a slightly different look and way of moving.

Was going to post a pic but the different species can look quite different so it's better if you just google it.

 

[JoJosReef]

That is a dorvilleid worm I believe. Basically a somewhat rare (in our tanks) worm in the bristleworm (polychaete) family. My understanding is that they are mostly detritivores like the standard bristleworms everyone has.

I've seen people claim they are algae eaters on forums but as with all "clean up crew" claims I only trust those that I have observed myself or seen video of. Since I have never had these nor have I seen some hard evidence that they specifically eat any kind of algae, I have to default to thinking they are just another detritivore.

I have not seen any reports of them eating coral or anything else, so I don't think they are dangerous to the reef, and can be just treated like another bristleworm with a slightly different look and way of moving.

Was going to post a pic but the different species can look quite different so it's better if you just google it.

Awesome. Found some very accurate pics online, and it looks like you are right. The "whiskers" are the same, and even found a youtube video showing the same swimming pattern, not that that is confirmation.

I thought this other worm was a Dorvilleidae, but it doesn't have any whiskers that I can see, and it is hard to get a good photo since it stays anchored to the rocks and retracts very quickly. Seems to be smoother and rounded white head. I've seen it picking at the live rock and also at the algae on the shells of my snails as they pass by.

Shared album from Joseph 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[ying yang]

I stand corrected,seems I was wrong.
Seen the tentacles and thought was eunice .
Tentacles on head facing backwards on dorvillidea and on eunice facing forward ?

Yours now damsels not mean corrected me clearly see the face and tentacles side of head facing backwards.
Sorry for wrong id,good job community here to correct others when wrong ^_^

 

[JoJosReef]

Yes, the community effort is great! Even when you can't get a positive ID, you still have the sense of comfort knowing multiple heads are trying to find a solution.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Awesome. Found some very accurate pics online, and it looks like you are right. The "whiskers" are the same, and even found a youtube video showing the same swimming pattern, not that that is confirmation.

I thought this other worm was a Dorvilleidae, but it doesn't have any whiskers that I can see, and it is hard to get a good photo since it stays anchored to the rocks and retracts very quickly. Seems to be smoother and rounded white head. I've seen it picking at the live rock and also at the algae on the shells of my snails as they pass by.

Shared album from Joseph 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

The vid is kind of blurry but based on the movement and the fact that is anchored it is probably a peanut worm, which is also harmless and just eats detritus. There is actually a coral called a "walking dendro" that lived in symbiosis with a type of peanut worm. The worm burrows into the skeleton of the coral and sticks itself out to push the coral around kind of like a hermit crab does with its shell. I am not sure whether this relationship is mutually beneficial or not. Maybe it helps the coral find better spots to catch prey.

 

[JoJosReef]

The vid is kind of blurry but based on the movement and the fact that is anchored it is probably a peanut worm, which is also harmless and just eats detritus. There is actually a coral called a "walking dendro" that lived in symbiosis with a type of peanut worm. The worm burrows into the skeleton of the coral and sticks itself out to push the coral around kind of like a hermit crab does with its shell. I am not sure whether this relationship is mutually beneficial or not. Maybe it helps the coral find better spots to catch prey.

Just found this link on another post direct from TBS, and they have two pics that match my worm, the forst stating that it is probably a peanut worm. Didn't know that they extend that far and thought they were a bit squatty with large rears.

Live Rock - Tampa Bay Saltwater Aquacultured Live Rock - The Package Organisms

And to top it off, I was up at 4am and had a quick look in the tank and saw a largish brown worm sticking out of the rocks. Didn't get a good look at the head, as it retracted super fast. Ordered a red flashlight and will try to spot it if it is less reactive to red.

I don't even know what's in my office tank. Never there at night!

 

[JoJosReef]

Here's a new one. Very small and slightly more brown color. There's also a blackish worm I can never get a good look at sonce it lives behind a rock against the back wall

 

[JoJosReef]

Hi @ying yang I think I got a eunice for you this time:

This guy looks to be about 4-5" at least. Antennas all pointed forwards, and with a white band behind the head. It is munching on my pom pom gracilaria right now. I wonder if it is more herbivore than predator, but I understand they are mostly omnivores. Sorry for the red. Just got a red flashlight and it really lets you see the creepy crawlers, since they don't get spooked.