ID Help, Please?

[smcnally]

Hi Dr Ron,
I sent a picture of a weird "worm" on one of my snails shells last month and nobody was really sure what it was. It was about 3/4" long at the time. I haven't seen it until yesterday as it found it's way to my fuge. Well, this picture should be better for you I hope. It is now at least 4" long! It was just casually weaving in and out of my algae eating last night.http://www2.steve-mcnally.com:8080/images/Reef%20Pics/01%20weird%20worm.jpg

[rshimek]

Hi,

To identify these animals one needs to be able to see details on their bodies. To see the details, I need crisp, in-focus, close up (=macro) images of the worm's head and body. I can't really see enough detail in your image to do any identification of it, sorry. About the best I can do is to refer you to a 3 part series on worms and their identification I wrote which was published in the March, 2003 though the May, 2003 issues of <b><a href="http://reefkeeping.com" target="_blank">Reefkeeping Magazine</a></b>. Perhaps you might be able to find something similar in one of those articles.

Otherwise, I need better images. Sorry. :(

[smcnally]

O.k., I fished it out. It must have been fully streched out yesterday because today it was short and fat. Definitely the same worm though. I hope these pictures make the grade.
http://www2.steve-mcnally.com:8080/images/Reef%20Pics/01%20weird%20worm%20close.jpg
http://www2.steve-mcnally.com:8080/images/Reef%20Pics/01%20weird%20worm%20close2.jpg

[bdblkta]

i believe it to be the commonly called medusa worm. it is good i think unless it dies or is harmed then i think they release toxins.

[smcnally]

After finding this picture http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/Synaptula%20sp%20copy.htm I do belive it's a medusa worm. Thanks for the info. It looks just like that picture just more brown in color.

[rshimek]

Hi,

The images are better, [thanks]. It is not really a worm, at all. :D

It is a sea cucumber, see here (http://web.archive.org/web/20020806032154/http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/2000/jan/wb/default.asp) and my article in the December, 2004, issue of <b><a href="http://reefkeeping.com" target="_blank">Reefkeeping Magazine</a></b> for information on their care.

[smcnally]

Thank you.