ID please?

[Firefighter_Tim]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/49278What_is_it.jpg

Ok... I put 40 lbs of Jacarda (not sure if that is how you spell it, near Tonga) in my tank a week ago. The other day I am looking at the tank as the lights go on and I see this little thing speeding around my tank. It is yellow, about 1 inch long, it moves like a tadpole (or sperm)(it's head and first 1/4 of it's body don't move but the other 3/4 move like a snake), it looks like it is furry and it moves EXTREMELY fast through the water. Any idea what it is?

THANKS!!!

[rshimek]

Hi Tim,

It is a reproductive stage of a polychaete worm. See this recent thread (http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=399906) for an explanation and some other images. :D

[Firefighter_Tim]

Wow... Thank you Ron!!! You're the man! The only thing i didn't see was if they were good, bad or neither. I have been catching mine (there was another one today) and I was wondering if I should leave them be or dispose of them. Any thoughts?
THANKS AGAIN!!!!

[rshimek]

Hi Tim,

These worms are beneficial as adults, they are scavengers, etc.

The larvae produced by the spawning are eaten by corals and soft corals, among other things.

In short, they are wholly beneficial animals. :D