Not sure what is on my rock

[paulr]

So took a close look today and seems like there were a few worm type objects on my rock. They were white/clear and 1-2 MM long. Is this some parasite or worm?

 

[bill302]

prolly a Bristol worm

 

[paulr]

Cant remb is a 6 line will eat them?

 

[TommyP]

Cant remb is a 6 line will eat them?

Yes, 6 lines are known to eat bristle worms.

 

[Rmckoy]

A yellow wrasse will also eat bristle worms
But I must ask why would you want to get rid of such a amazing scavenger ?
As long as they are not too big they will not likely kill anything as long as there is a food source for them .
I have quite a few in my tank and with a 7 year old daughter that likes to feed fish they have Left over food not consumed by fish to clean up .
IMO they are a perfect addition to a CUC

 

[paulr]

If small ok. They just look unattractive. They are super small. Not sure what the growth rate is?

 

[Rmckoy]

If small ok. They just look unattractive. They are super small. Not sure what the growth rate is?

I think it's like anything else it depends on how many and how much they have to eat .
They have traps available at the Lfs
If you want to get rid of them

 

[Aaarrrggghhh80]

I don't think bristle worm. I have thousands of worms, sand bed, rocks, super thin like thread and white/ clear. They are good, they eat particles.

 

[Rmckoy]

I don't think bristle worm. I have thousands of worms, sand bed, rocks, super thin like thread and white/ clear. They are good, they eat particles.

I've attached a picture of a bristle worm from when I first bought my rocks and set up my tank last winter .
They are pretty creepy looking and apparently if handled they can cut you pretty good .
I don't know for sure though

 

[Aaarrrggghhh80]

Yes, that picture there is of a bristle worm

 

[Aaarrrggghhh80]

They don't cut you, the spines come off in your skin. I have been caught out often. No dramas

 

[Rmckoy]

They don't cut you, the spines come off in your skin. I have been caught out often. No dramas

Like I said it was hear say and wasn't sure if it was true or not .

 

[Aaarrrggghhh80]

The original question said the worms are 'on' the rock. I assume attached. I have these worms that have a bit of a 'pipe' that they extend and retract from. They are like mobile hair that reaches to fetch particles to feed on.

 

[Aaarrrggghhh80]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/marinewormcare/Marine_Worm_Information.htm

 

[Stlrockguy]

That's a pic of a bristle worm in my tank. They have a toxin in them if I remember correctly. Probably like getting a bee sting

 

[Stlrockguy]

That was the wrong pic. Sorry. I think they look kinda cool

 

[Rmckoy]

That was the wrong pic. Sorry. I think they look kinda cool

Wow . That's huge .

 

[Stlrockguy]

I've seen about 10 of them out at one time. Mine come out day or night. They even come out when I feed my fish.

 

[Bowin]

I think I have the same thing on my live rock. White and stringy like thread. They stretch out on the rock and sand like tentacles searching for food. Not bristleworms and seem harmless. I'm curious as to what they are too.

 

[Stlrockguy]

The original question said the worms are 'on' the rock. I assume attached. I have these worms that have a bit of a 'pipe' that they extend and retract from. They are like mobile hair that reaches to fetch particles to feed on.

Those are probably Vermetid snails,