lutz123 January 31, 2011 January 31, 2011 This bristleworm (1/8 inch wide and 2-3 inches has emerged from the rock) has been popping out of his crevice all day long and he comes out often. I can always expect to see him if I go check the tank. The substrate is the caribsea special grade reef sand, so not terribly small. He grabs substrate, opens his mouth, and swallows it. He swallows two or 3 pieces and carries one in his mouth back into his hole. It's like watching a python try to swallow large prey. He's been doing it all day long. That may explain better what I saw last week, which was him reach up into the water column and expel 4 or 5 white pellets (which I subsequently figured out was poop.) There is plenty of "stuff" to eat in the tank - live rock and all of it's various hitchhikers, 2 sea urchins, a couple of hermits, and some snails. It's not going to make a difference in my life - I'm just curious, but it's driving me nuts that I can't find anything on the web.
Origami January 31, 2011 January 31, 2011 I suspect that it's feeding off of detritus and bacteria that cling to the substrate particles. Think of the aragonite as fiber for bristle worms.
lutz123 February 2, 2011 Author February 2, 2011 Sigh... I suppose. I honestly never thought I'd be fascinated by a bristleworm. Blech! Yesterday he was still at it. It's just so strange...and the research geek in me can't get over the fact that I can't find anything on the internet. Heck, even WWM (Bob Fenner) simply said "Hmm, never heard of that". I seriously need to go ahead and get fish. Then I can just get over the worm.
davelin315 February 2, 2011 February 2, 2011 Are you sure it's a bristle worm? One that is out in the open for that long and swallowing substrate sounds more like a medusa worm or cucumber.
lutz123 February 2, 2011 Author February 2, 2011 Nah - nothing like that. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's a eunicid worm after looking at some youtube videos - has the same white on it's "neck" as some of those. It's a very centipede looking worm, with definite antenna - and lightning fast. Hmm, that changes things. Not sure I really want him there... What do people do with these? Kill them?
Coral Hind February 2, 2011 February 2, 2011 If you want any kind of an ID other then a guess you will need to post up some pictures! What do people do with these? I would flush it.
lutz123 February 2, 2011 Author February 2, 2011 Yeah, yeah. I've tried, but I can't get it to focus. Yet another excuse to get a good camera!
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