univited critters

[Northvan]

New to salt, have 2 new critters, one is some kind of nudibranch,want to know if its a problem in a reef tank, the other looks like a large centipede, maybe a bristleworm? I will try to attach pictures (new to this too). the nudibranch kind of looks like xenia (maybe thats what it eats?) the centipede thing is about 4 inches long & pale, came out after lights out. .....My pictures wont load because " a security token was missing" ....Can anybody tell me what I'm doing wrong?

[Wingin It]

Some Nudi's are good, some bad...and the other probably is a bristleworm. Don't touch 'em with your fingers! lol
I suggest uploading your pics to a site like www.photobucket.com (http://www.photobucket.com) and attach the IMG code to your next reponse. Easier that way. :)

[paddyob]

The centipede thing could be a cheaton (spelling uncertain). It is hard shell and harmless.

Maybe somebody can clarify spelling.

have a look....

http://www.marineaquariumsa.com/imagehosting/11854b8941e04c185.jpg

[Northvan]

http://s1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/northvan69/?action=organize

[hillbillyreefer]

The above link takes you to the photobucket homepage.

[christyf5]

Right click on the photo you want to post here, then copy the address. Then in your post here, click on the little photo icon (yellow) and paste in the address. At photobucket there is also the option to mouseover the thumbnail sized photo and a menu will appear, you can select the URL including the IMG tags and just paste that here (whichever is easiest for you).

Here are your photos :biggrin:

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/northvan69/55%20gallon%20salt%20tank%20after%203%20months/nudibranch.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/northvan69/55%20gallon%20salt%20tank%20after%203%20months/DSCN0103.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/northvan69/55%20gallon%20salt%20tank%20after%203%20months/centipedething.jpg



Personally, I'd get rid of the nudibranch. Most nudibranches that look similar to corals are predatory for that coral and are designed that way to blend in while they're killing it. I'd vote yours is likely a softy eating coral and likely hitchhiked in with it. Have you noticed any of your corals looking eaten or not as healthy looking as when you got them?

The second critter is a bristleworm. They're mostly scavengers but sometimes are identified as predatory when they get large. I'd classify yours as large, you may want to remove it...or not. Thats up to you :biggrin:

[Northvan]

Hi Christy
Thanks for the help with the pics, I think I got it now. If I ever see the critters again I will likely move them, I have another tank up & running but empty, no harm in dropping them in there if I can catch them. (haven't seen either one since the pics).
Cheers
Catherine

[JonT]

Yep, I would call that worm large. Here is what happens when you unknowingly pet one!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/Jammor/125%20gallon%20tank/Oops2.jpg

If you do pet one, get some Duct tape (stuff fixes everything!) and gently set the tape on the bristles, and lift. It will pull most if not all of the bristles. Avoiding that itchy, burning, feeling your left with normally while your body deals with the broken bristles left behind.

[Ryanst]

I am pretty sure that it is one of the bad bristle worms. I had some of those in my tank and they killed a medium sized turbo snail. I think it is a hermodice carunculata you can look it up on this site www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html (http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html)

[scar_11]

Yep, I would call that worm large. Here is what happens when you unknowingly pet one!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/Jammor/125%20gallon%20tank/Oops2.jpg

If you do pet one, get some Duct tape (stuff fixes everything!) and gently set the tape on the bristles, and lift. It will pull most if not all of the bristles. Avoiding that itchy, burning, feeling your left with normally while your body deals with the broken bristles left behind.

Thanks for the heads up Jon I did that this weekend and didn't have any duck tape so I used hockey tape. I need to get gloves