Worm Monster?

[MusicTeach]

I have caught cirolanid isopods, gorilla crabs, whelks, polyclad flatworms, and bobbit worms, but I've never seen anything like this. Live rock is real.


I have absolutely no idea what this is. It reminds me of "Hunters" from the Halo videogame series. I was moving a rock and found it underneath. At first, I thought it was the remains of my ol' tube anemone, but then I remembered I had already pulled that out. This is one of two times in my life as an aquarist that I thought I really should've used gloves.

It appears to be a mass of worms, but I couldn't tell if it was alive because of how slow it moved. I set it back down on the sandbed to see if it was alive, and it seemed to sink below the sandbed. I know where I put it, so I can probably find it again if necessary. But what are your thoughts? First, did the 2 pictures below load? Second, what is it? And third, what steps do you think I need to take?

I really appreciate all of your support. This is definitely the weirdest thing I've ever found in my tank.

 

[redfishbluefish]

@KJ #Reefsquad

 

[DSC reef]

Do you have a sea hare in the tank?

 

[4FordFamily]

I have no idea what it is, but I must say that looks like a Covenant Hunter crossed with the Flood. Doublekill.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Some of the worms resemble Nemertea worms (Ribbon Worms) I'm going with a cluster of Ribbon Worms

 

[MusicTeach]

I don't believe I have a sea hare in my tank. I have found a pistol shrimp that came on the rock, but I've only seen him once in the last 14 months, so it's possible that there is a sea hare in there as well.

 

[catfishblues]

Dang that's crazy I've got no idea what it is but if I had to guess I'd say it's a Mgalekgolo [emoji23]

 

[RandU]

Tangled up spaghetti worm?

 

[KJ]

Look like nudibranch eggs.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I know one thing.. that wouldn't have gone back in my tank looks like a "kill it with fire" thing to me! ;Hilarious

 

[Bob Loblaw]

...

 

[Crabs McJones]

Question - Does it move? (worms) or do they not move ( eggs )

 

[BestMomEver]

I have no clue. I just wanted to say that it’s creepy looking. It resembles a electron microscope image of some mutant bacteria. Ewwww. Good luck!

 

[MusicTeach]

From what I could tell, it wasn't moving, but when I would set it down into the sandbed, it would 'sink' into the sandbed over the course of a couple of minutes. I couldn't really detect movement apart from the water flow. I have a hard time saying for sure that it didn't move, being that it is below my sandbed again, but it wasn't clearly observable when I was looking at it. If anything it just moved super super slow.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I will say, you are a brave soul for touching it bare handed ;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[MusicTeach]

I will say, you are a brave soul for touching it bare handed ;Hilarious;Hilarious

My mother always told me there's a fine line between brave and stupid. I believe the line is called "considering the consequences." But thank you for your kind words! I wasn't sure how else to get the picture of it!

 

[Oldreefer44]

Second the warning about using bare hands. Lots of stories of serious injuries.

 

[MusicTeach]

Second the warning about using bare hands. Lots of stories of serious injuries.

What gloves do you recommend?

 

[tupes]

What gloves do you recommend?

Thick mil (5-7mil) latex gloves. I buy mine from harbor freight

 

[Matt Carden]

I picked up something orange that fell out of my live rock onto the floor without gloves and added it to my tank. It felt like something stung me. I immediately went to wash my hands and put on some nitrile gloves to add the rest of my shipment of live rock. I discovered it later and it ended up being a starfish. I will wear gloves whenever I touch anything in my tank from now on.