Worm ID

[discotu]

Saw this worm wrapped around my colt. Is it a bristle worm? Should I put it back in the tank or toss it?

thanks!
Brian

[dobejazz]

It doesn't look like the harmless bristle worms I've seen. I'd toss it at least into the sump

[dorian965]

how fast is it????

[discotu]

not very fast at all...but, it gets better. I just found something else on my colt. Looks like some type of nudibranch. It's at the base of one of the colt branches...one that i noticed has lately been withdrawn. I am assuming it's been sucking at the base of it....any ID on that sucker?

[dobejazz]

Looks like a nudi here is a thread on my leather eating nudis. It should have a link to a nudi ID site

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87199

[discotu]

thanks for the ID Kelli!!!!

I yanked it off and it definiately did some damage...hope the colt recovers...

[dobejazz]

No problem I hope the colt recovers for ya

[Fly Guy]

Its a bristleworm of sorts..........ive never seen one like it....kind of cool i think.

Possibly a syllidae?? I just compared it to a pic on the following page

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyu...itchworms.html

[LeslieH]

Brian -- It is a syllid, and possibly Syllis onkylochaeta. Someone sent me a specimen that came in on one of their softies so I was able to verify an id for once. S. onkylochaeta has only been found in aquariums. I've never seen a reference to it in the wild. It appears to be an obligate commensal. Unlike most syllids which are reported to feed by sucking out cell contents & are fairly harmless this one actually bites chunks out of its host. While I prefer worms over corals you may not feel the same. I think you should get rid of it by throwing it into some high proof alcohol (rubbing alchohol or Everclear would do) and sending it to me. It would be nice to have another specimen for the museum.

Do you know where the colt came from & what species the colt is?

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by LeslieH

While I prefer worms over corals you may not feel the same.

LOL.......I love my corals....but worms are awesome.........I think i could get into playing with them as well

[discotu]

Hi Leslie, should I try sending it to you live? It doesn't look like it's doing to hot...It's been sitting in the same bowl since friday. I just put some fresh tank water in it and it's still squirming around but it's definitely not a healthy specimen. Lemme know, either way I'll ship it to ya.

Regarding the colt, not sure of it's origin or what species it is. Picked it up from the LFS probably 6 months ago. I stare at my colt quite often and I am surprised I just found this worm and nudi. Maybe hitchhiked in on something else...

Speaking of the nudi, anyone want him? Kelli? Anymore room in your nano for another leather eating nudi?

[LeslieH]

Brian - Dead is just fine. Sending it live is a pain & more expensive since it would have to go overnight.

Pour off most of the water in it's bowl. Gradually add a little alcohol - less than a teaspoon at a time - to the water until the worm stops moving, then throw the worm into full strength alcohol (150 proof minimum). To ship it use a small leak proof container like a pill bottle or spice jar full of alcohol. Put the container into 2 or 3 baggies just in case (the post office hates leaking alcohol). It can go regular mail. The alternative - if you live in Los Angeles & like museums - is to come to the Natural History Museum & just drop it off. I'm always happy to see people who have worms! ;-)

My address is:
Leslie Harris
Research & Collections, Polychaetes
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90007

THANKS!!!

[discotu]

I'll mail it out to you tomorrow. I am pretty sure it's dead now. It's still intact but has degraded some so it's not the prettiest of speciems. I hope it's still of some use to you.

Brian