Unknown Critter
 

Hello All

I've just jumped into the marine aquarium hobby after a few years of research. The tank is up and running, and has finally cycled - just put three snails and five hermit crabs in the tank. I've noticed this little critter attached to one of my rocks and was wondering if anyone knows what it is. I have a few of them scattered about and I'm hoping it's nothing bad. Thanks for your help.

Could be a peanut worm, nothing to worry about.

The picture looks kind of like a vermetid snail assuming it has a hard shell and tube. Not terribly bad as long as the population doesn't explode. If they get out of hand they can be unsightly and can grow in places you don't want them, but as pests go, not the worst either.

More info here.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

Does it move? Maybe I'm not looking at it correctly, but it kind of looks like a little feather duster tube.

Thanks for the responses all. It does not appear to move, and to me it does kind of look like a tube worm. Actually, at first it reminded me of a flower bulb with a sprout emerging. the larger part at the base is sort of rounded. Not sure it's vermetid snail, although I'll watch to see if it moves. I'm really hoping it's nothing bad, as I already have a few apstasia growing on rocks, and two rather hairy crabs running around. . .

Hey Frank, have you tried to catch the crabs yet? You should try the ol' tried and true pop bottle method :D

http://x00.xanga.com/8ddd2b4b36c3111.../w84929414.gif

P.S. You put something meaty (piece of shrimp, etc.) in the bottle.

Thanks Chef - tried that last night, but no luck yet. Does it work? I would think that it would. I'll just have to be patient and give it a chance to work.

Sounds very much like a vermetid snail. They do not move once they attach themselves.

After reading the article that you posted Ed it does appear that I do have vermetid snails. And after giving the tank a good look over I appear to have about six of so. One appears to be more purple, but all the rest have the orange colour seen in my pictures. It doesn't appear, from the article, that they become a problem, so I'm glad about that. Thanks for the link by the way Ed.