Worm ID, Friend or Foe

[detrazgw]

I posted this in another forum but I thought I could ask here as well. Go to link to see a pic.

"The Critter" (http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32836)

George

[iCam]

Hey, that looks like a lancet to me. And by the way:

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

[mejiggery]

I think your gonna have to post the pic here as Dr.Ron does`nt follow links to other forums.

[detrazgw]

Here is the Pic.

New 11g tank only a week old. This guy was only showing it self at night till today. I would see it poke its head out of the sand and I thought it was a clam neck for a while. As soon as light hit it from the flash light it was gone in a flash. I put together a moonlight so I could get a better look and this is what I found. A worm of some sort. It is compacted in this pic. It will stretch out a little more. It apears to have a paddle tail and round/pointed head. It swims well also.

George

[iCam]

LANCET

[rshimek]

Hi,

It is a lancet or cephalochordate. See here (http://www.rshimek.com/odd_critters.htm#Amphioxus) for a bit more information. They are filter-feeding cousins of vertebrates. They are harmless, but generally do not persist in our systems.

[detrazgw]

Thanks Ron,

Several people said it was a lancet but when I look it up it was a deep water fish with fang teeth. Now I see it is actualy spelled lancelet. Thanks for your help. I belive it has parished under a rock or within the sand. I guess that it will kick my cycle into gear.

George