Worms in BTA?

[kaba]

I've noticed this many times before in my BTA, but never thought to take a pic until today. My BTA has what appears to be worms living inside it. I regularly see them in the tentacles, and today I noticed them in 3 tentacles.

Are worms typically seen inside anemones? Or am I totally off my rocker and is this something completely different?

Thanks for your help.

[clownfishcrazy]

Those look like flatworms, they are not harmfull but they can shade the anemone from light because they are sitting on it.

[kaba]

Thanks for the reply, Devin. However, the worm-like things are in the anemone, not on it. They look like long, white strands of hair, but a little thicker than hair.

Any other thoughts?

[clownfishcrazy]

Maybe peanut worms, how long have they been there? Sometimes corals will expell thier zooxanthella (sp.) and it will look like stringy worms that are golden brown.

[lfish]

I was doing some research on rbta once and I remember reading that if you see a spaghetti like substance coming from it / it could mean it is sick

They said something like as long as you do not see this, the anemone is ok. Once you see the spaghetti, it could be on the way out.

I hope I am wrong, just wanted you to know what I had read so you can look into it

good luck,

[trodder]

I don't think they look anything like flat worms...I seen quite a few in Dereks tank a long way back. However I have no clue what that is... I will try to look at my RBTA and my 2 Green BTAs today to see if I notice any worm like things growing on it or in it for that matter.

[redlion4]

Never seen nor heard of anything like that. Would suggest posting it in Reef Centrals "Anemonies & Clownfish" forum, or even the "Ask Dr. Ron" area. That is strange. Does the anemone appear healthy otherwise (eating, expanding, and such)?

[kaba]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I didn't know if this was a common thing with BTAs or not. Although, I've done a bit of searching on the Internet and can't find anything similar mentioned anywhere.

I've had the anemone for about a year now. I feed it 3-4 times per week, and it seems to be doing well. It's only moved once in the past year, and that was only to come out a couple inches from behind a rock. Otherwise, it's stayed put in the same place since it first went in my tank and hasn't wandered at all. I noticed these worm-like strands inside it quite a while ago, so they aren't anything new. They appear to be in different locations day-to-day, and are not being expelled.

Well, perhaps I will post elsewhere and try to get some other opinions. Thanks again for the comments.