worm

[hunt]

i havnt looked in my tank at night for some time(due to new sleeping arrangments and i couldnt move the tank)
Anyways, i got a chance to last weekend and right when i shined the light in there, two worms with small brisslt like legs swam/spiriled up to the glass, one was reddish in color and the other was grey. Both were about 1/4in long. Just curious what they are.(couldnt get a pick because they move to fast)

 

[isthatright]

sounds like bristle worms, they're ok , they eat leftover stuff

 

[t316]

Just don't touch them with your bare hands.....very painful

 

[hunt]

They arnt the average red and white ones, those ones are afraid of light, and ive never seen those ones swim. These ones swam by like spirling through the water to get to light i was shining in. I switched sides, and both found there way to it again. They have tiny little stump like bristles, not the short white ones that the other red and white ones have.

 

[spanko]

Look up epitoke, likely what you are seeing.
http://phthiraptera.blogspot.com/200...ill-shoot.html

 

[hunt]

a few of the pics looked like it

 

[cranberry]

Henry is correct, you are totally describing epitoke behaviour with the swimming pattern and attraction to light.

 

[hunt]

there kinda fun to play with, ill shine the light, then they go there, i move the light accross the tank, 5 seconds later they're there again.
Thanks for your help

 

[reefenamored]

I have the same worms that are inhabiting my tank. they don't look like the pictures when i looked up epitoke. they do swim in a spiraling motion and disappear once the lights are on. are they harmful to fish? I've had bristle worm infestations and they used to eat my smaller fish and clams. I'll post a video when I get home. could anyone identify them?

 

[bang guy]

Epitokes are non-feeding and harmless to other inhabitants of your tank.

 

[reefenamored]

Thanks big bang

 

[reefenamored]

Purchased a six lined wrasse and puffer.they could care less about bristleworms or epitokes