What is this???

I just found this thing in my tank today. It's stuck to the glass near the top of the aquarium half in, half out of the water. It looks like a piece of thread balled up and stuck to the glass but its see-through and close up it looks like the tentacles of a curly cue anemone tho I'm pretty sure that's not what it is. I've also noticed my xenia dying in one part of the tank, 2 heads are gone and a third is covered in brown goo and is missing parts of the pulsating ends.

Anyone have any idea what this is? And if so, is it harmful and should I get rid of it or is it ok?

 

It's a spaghetti worm.

I'm pretty sure it is harmless. Just creepy looking.

 

That is crazy looking. I have never seen one before. Poke it

 

Seano is right, but it's not usually a good sign to see them out in the open. How are your water parameters?

 

I like you...

 

Thanks;D

 

Water params were ok last time they were checked on the weekend. Ammonia was a little high .25 and phosphate was high as well as pH 8.8 but everything else was perfect. temp is 80, salt .023.

So should I keep this thing or no? Could it be harming my xenia?

PetMother - my boyfriend poked it, I didnt want to get too close yet. He said it has a hard shell but is squishy otherwise! I think its disgusting whether it turns out to be cool or not.

 

haha. That was funny...

 

Nothing dangerous about spaghetti worms, except sometimes they can irritate your corals if they feel around on them. My guess on the xenia would be the ammonia. That's probably why the spaghetti worm was moving around too. Any amount of ammonia is not ok for water parameters, that needs to come down. I'm assuming from your start date of May that your tank has already cycled? If so, you need to do a water change to get that ammonia down. Also finding out why it's up is important.