ID this worm please

[meph]

Hi, I've been checking out my tank more at night... recently I've been seeing this weird creature.I have no idea what it is but i'm thinking of trying to get it out. It hides in that same rock and comes out only at night. its about the size of a small earthworm.

 

[daisy]

Interesting - it looks like the tiger tail cucumber I have, only mine are larger than an earthworm. Still, perhaps a young one would be that small?

If it is a cucumber, the nighttime behavior makes sense.

The cucumber is a great animal - cleans the sand. Can you get a pic of what it does at night? does it leave clean clumps of sand behind?

 

[LeslieH]

Yes, a sea cucumber & probably in the genus Holothuria. You can clearly see the extended feeding tentacles on the left side of the animal in the second image. Miz Daisy is right - a beneficial addition to your cleaning crew.

 

[meph]

sorry, i forgot to mention that it has a mop-like head with tentacles.. looks like a crown with points that move. I can't see what it leaves behind because the "butt" is in the rock haha. I just know it stays in that rock.

 

[yiliyang]

probably a relative of my tiger tail cuc. Great animal to have.

 

[meph]

ugh.... this sucka eats corals! i caught it munching the other night... anybody want it?

 

[Boomer]

Hi Leslie

 

[meph]

Sucka got big... i saw it all over 1 chalice frag one night.. the next morning.. half the frag was bone white.. not sure what to do with it... should i put it in the refugium? anybody want it?


updated pics

 

[waynotcars]

I'd kill the sucker to be honest

 

[NYreefNoob]

it is a cucumber, and they dont eat corals, you might see it cleaning round them but not eating, ive had mine foralmost 2 years now and switch it back and forth between my systems