Small worms can't ID

[McReefer]

I have a large amount of small worms in with some copepods i bought and I'm worried about adding them to my culture or tank. There is a LARGE range of sizes so I know I'm seeing the full cycle of growth on them. The largest worm is just as long as my largest copepod but way skinnier and moves like a worm would not a pod. Any ideas? I'll try and grab a pic somehow.

 

[ldreefer]

I know I have a ton of these little white worms in my tank. They're all really super skinny and I see them dangling out of rocks all of the time. They seem stationary though. They just come out of a hole and kinda wave in the current. It may be what you're talking about, I'm not positive.

 

[SushiGirl]

McReefer, I had those too. On the glass with the pods, right? I believe they're Dorvilleidae. Very tiny. Scroll down the page till you find Dorvilleidae (a little more than halfway down). http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html

ldreefer, sounds like you have digitate hydroids.

 

[McReefer]

@SushiGirl wrote:

Wow... Nice website. TY for the link. That could be them but I don't see legs like that on these guys. Then again I'm using a 10x to look at them. I really need to order a good microscope or something.

 

[Ashlar]

The legs are almost invisible to the naked eye.

Here's another one I caught, showing how transparent the legs really are..

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If you see the eye spots on the head, and the eversible jaws (the black structures), that's likely what it is.

 

[McReefer]

Huh... The ones I have aren't long enough to double over like that. There about half the size by guessing. I will find the time to get better pics soon.

 

[Ashlar]

Well, that was at about 60x magnification, the actual size was about 3-4mm.

 

[SushiGirl]

They're not legs, but more like fleshy bristles.

 

[Ashlar]

Well, they do have parapodia ('legs'), but they're just little nubs with bristles.

 

[SushiGirl]

Interesting. Must be heck buying shoes LOL.

 

[Neptune1]

-if they are that small - is it possible that you are looking at Mysis shrimp???

 

[McReefer]

Nope not mysis. These guys move SLLOOOOOWWW.