Got suspect organism in mom's tank

[Double-O-Zilch]

My mother has a 14g BC like me. In fact, she got one first and learning to care for it is how I got started. Recently she got a toadstool and she noticed a filament coming out of it, or so we thought. I can see today that it is not the toadstool casting it's net. The organism is white/clear and casts a line with hairs coming off perpendicular to the main hair. When it draws it back in it's like an accordion action starting at the top and collapsing as it pulls it back down. Any ideas? Is this thing harmful? The clowns seem to avoid them like the plague which makes me wonder if it stings them. I checked the ID links and found nothing. I don't even know what to type in the search box as I'm at a loss.

[Still Learning]

Check out sea cucumbers. Make sure to check that it isn't a feather duster or tube worm. Any of these wouldn't be a problem. We sometimes get barnicels and mussels as hitch hikers too.

[Bill S]

Yeah, that kind of sounds like a barnacle. One long arm that has fingers on it.

[Double-O-Zilch]

I know it isn't a tube worm or feather duster. Its around the edge of the toadstool and is a soft bodied animal with many filaments it "casts" out for food. Got to go to work now but I'll try to get a pic up tomorrow.

[txmaverickmh]

I am pretty sure it is a barnacle...I have one on the base of my frogspawn, really cool little fisherman guys!

MH

[Double-O-Zilch]

Interesting, I never would have thought barnacle. I always thought of them as the hard things on boats and docks. Next question, his he harmful to the toadstool?