Is this a bristle? Bob it? Something else?

[LadyMac]

Ok so this is long, I apologize.
About a week or two ago I noticed kne of my rock flower nems just didn’t look like himself. I thought either he was getting ready to poo, possibly spawn, or needed feeding. I offered food, and he refused. He’s become slightly pale, and seems to be more compact as opposed to his happy giant open self. I checked my water, and everything is normal, for this tank (nitrates are still 25, phosphate zero, salinity 32 ppt.) nothing has changed the entire time I have had him, same rock, same livestock, same corals, except a brand new return pump. My old one was a little underpowered, and was slowing down, so I thought that may be the issue here. Then the other day I saw that at night he would close up. Right below him still sits his little green friend, who is unaffected. I thought, maybe the verminteds are too close, so I planned to today during maintenance to smoosh the ones near him. Today during sock maintenance, I notice some worms in my mesh sock. I have no idea what they are. So maybe this is his issue? Can anyone tell me what they are?

This was about 15 mins after lights on. Mr. Green is happy. Red is not.

Video of four of them found in the sock.

 

[MnFish1]

I have had those (or at least what I thought looked like those) - I did not see that they caused any problems. The fish ate them. They look a little strange to be 'bristle worms'. Ps my situation was similar to yours - I found them in the sock and under a rock. Since then I've never seen them again. I would watch to see if they are near the anemone, etc

 

[LadyMac]

I have had those (or at least what I thought looked like those) - I did not see that they caused any problems. The fish ate them. They look a little strange to be 'bristle worms'. Ps my situation was similar to yours - I found them in the sock and under a rock. Since then I've never seen them again. I would watch to see if they are near the anemone, etc

Thanks for the reply! Problem is, I can’t see them. I only noticed the bright red one when I turned my sock inside out to rinse, and noticed the others after the rinse in some tank water. I’m not sure how to see them around the nem

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks for the reply! Problem is, I can’t see them. I only noticed the bright red one when I turned my sock inside out to rinse, and noticed the others after the rinse in some tank water. I’m not sure how to see them around the nem

Yes - I picked up a gonipora once - and there were 4 underneath it - I thought maybe they were hurting the coral - so I just moved it - in 10 seconds - the fish ate all of them lol - I then found a couple in the filter sock - I do not think (if you can't see them near the anemone) - that they should be causing a problem.

 

[LadyMac]

Yes - I picked up a gonipora once - and there were 4 underneath it - I thought maybe they were hurting the coral - so I just moved it - in 10 seconds - the fish ate all of them lol - I then found a couple in the filter sock - I do not think (if you can't see them near the anemone) - that they should be causing a problem.

Ok that’s a relief, but then also makes me wonder what I’m earth has my nem so upset, to close at night when it hasn’t done that at all even when I first brought it home

 

[Soren]

I think it might be a dorvilleidae worm. They are similar to bristleworms, but usually smaller. From what I have read about them, they are beneficial detritus eaters.

 

[MnFish1]

Ok that’s a relief, but then also makes me wonder what I’m earth has my nem so upset, to close at night when it hasn’t done that at all even when I first brought it home

How long have you had it? mine would sometimes just close up - could it be that its eating - and then closes?

 

[LadyMac]

How long have you had it? mine would sometimes just close up - could it be that its eating - and then closes?

At least six months, maybe a little longer. He seems a little more pale around his tentacles than usual, and Ive offered food (brine shrimp/ mysis shrimp/ grocery store thawed raw shrimp) and he refuses all. He’s not moving around, just seems “meh”