Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

The 30 gal I picked up from SaltnLime is up and running thanks to Amy and Snoop's help this past weekend. I picked up a chunk of rock and a few crabs today and this evening I found a new guest in the tank.

I'm not really sure what it is, and I'd like some help ID'ing it or suggestions on what to do with or about it.

I would say the whole thing is maybe 3 inches tall and with the tentacles? stretched out it maybe reaches a max diameter of 2 inches. Its light brown, maybe pink in color, has a stem that’s attached down into a hole in the rock and what looks like hairs with white bumps or dots on them coming off of the head and the tube looks sorta hollow. At first I thought it was just a plant or something, but I can hit it with a flashlight and it will sorta gyrate towards the beam. Should I get some food or something to feed it or just leave it be?

Would like to see a picture but sounds like it might be a fether duster worm....

http://www.northwestdiver.com/gallery/s ... p?photo=63
http://www.picsbase.com/james/?catID=111

Sand Mason Worm, they construct there homes from sand. A feather duster uses it's own body shell for the exterior. A Sand Mason worms will glue grains of sand together and then pull food in.

Here is a nice article about most sand worms, sometimes they get on the rockwork though.

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_p ... q_sand.htm

still would like to see a picture

Wow, nice info. Using those pictures, if I were to guess from the pictures on those sites I'd call it a type of feather duster. I'm working on a camera of sorts for a photo album detailing my progress. With luck I'll get a picture or 2 up here soon.

They say they sell those things in pet stores and its a common hitchhiker so I'm good to just leave it be?

Unless you find a crab, or maybe a mantis shrimp let it be. Any very furry crab could be a problem, certain slugs can cause havoc. Sundial snails are not desireable. And hearing any loud popping sounding like glass breaking will be a non friendly Mantis Shrimp

When you have reading time hit this link, since you are on dial-up it should not be horrible, pictures are a minimum mostly text. This information is incredible in the amount of information packed in.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/past.htm