Tube worm? ID please...

[armygreen11]

These popped up on my live rock a couple of weeks ago. They look like really small tube polyps, but someone told me they were tube worms from a verbal description I gave. I can't get any closer with my camera, sorry. It won't focus down any smaller than this. The tubes are about 1mm in dia.

http://home.comcast.net/~armygreen11/TankPics02Jun04\Unknown1.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~armygreen11/TankPics02Jun04\Unknown2.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~armygreen11/TankPics02Jun04\Unkonown3.JPG

[rshimek]

Hi Greg,

They appear to be hydroids, see here (http://www.rshimek.com/odd_critters.htm#Hydrozoan%20Polyps%20or%20Hydroids) and follow the link given for more information.

In low numbers they are generally no problem, but sometimes they can get to be quite a pest. You can do a search of this forum (see the search button in the logo at the top of the page) using "hydroid" as your search key word to find out some of the experiences other hobbyists have had.

[armygreen11]

Thanks Dr. Ron. They're only occupying a space of about one square inch on an overhang, so I'm not too worried about them being there right now. If they start multiplying, I'll do something about it.