What the heck did I just witness?

[cristine]

I'm doing my regular water change on my 12 gallon nano and all of the sudden a relatively thick (maybe 1/8in) pinkish worm, I think a bristle worm, comes partially out of a rock and begins to squirt pinksih liquid/gel out. The liquid seems to stay together, not really disolving or becomiong dilute as it is released. My first thought was that I had cut it in half by accident, but I hadn't been anywhere near it. It was also a definate "squirting". Then within seconds another worm, then another ,then another, come partially out of various rocks and do the same thing! I'm thinking I'm either going to find everything dead in the morning because of the "toxic" release or they all like to go to the bathroom at the same time. Possibly even the bristle worms way of multiplying? I have no idea and can't seem to find any info about this. Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[cristine]

Well as far as I can gather after researching this event, it seems it may have been the release of eggs. At least that description seems to fit pretty well with what I saw. Strange how they all seem to do it at the same time.

 

[anonome]

Do a search on this site on bristleworms spawning.....I had the same thing happen. My thread is interesting.
Many months later, the tank is just fine, so the corals and fish got the benefit.

 

[cristine]

Thanks. I did d a search again after reading your reply. My experience is similar to the ones I read about except my water did not turn cloudy, nor was it a milky substance. It was a salmon pink, same color as the worm itself. First one, then another and another and another. Really seemed like the behavior of one triggered the behavior of the others. Interesting. I'm glad my husband was there to witness it, I don't think I could have described it well enough. I feel lucky to have witness whatever it was. Most likely spawning.
Cris