Parasite???

[RumRum1006]

This was several months ago and could never figure out what it was but it appeared a day or 2 after my scopas tang died. The tang was sick for a couple weeks and nothing I did would help him. I am wondering if this was some kind of parasite that was inside him or if anyone knows what it was/is???? Thanks

[MizTanks]

Yuck!!! Does it move?

[RumRum1006]

I watched it for several minutes and no movement and then came back a few hours later and it didn't move from that spot either... But of course when I went to take it out it was gone.

[adalius]

Roughly how big do you think the diameter is in that photo? I've seen spaghetti worms in public display tanks that can put out a head about that size, but never in a hobby tank. Here's one that, for scale, the head is roughly 1/8" on, but if you could imagine a larger version scaled up, it would look similar. When it pulls the head in it disappears entirely, which is what likely happened when you came back.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/rs/images/Image6.jpg

[RumRum1006]

It was between 2-3" diameter

[RumRum1006]

The diameter of the actual "worm" was tiny, I would say about 1/16"

[adalius]

Sound about right. Here's another picture.
http://science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/MarBioBelize/Lectures/MarineInverts09/SpaghettiWorm.jpg

[RumRum1006]

Wow that's pretty cool looking. I think ur 100% correct it looked just like this and it was in the very lower corner so the rest must have been buried. Is this reef friendly? Lol I would have been shocked when I were to pull it out and seen everything else that came with it.

[adalius]

99% of the time they're fine. They're filter feeders and their cousins which are similar but usually only have 3-4 long white tentacles are more common.

[RumRum1006]

Thanks Josh!

[MizTanks]

That is so freaking cool looking!! WOW!