Slime blanket?

ESH · Dec 30, 2019

In the morning time right before and as my lights come on, I’ve been seeing a clear/whitish slime blanket coming out of a rock in my tank. It’s been pretty consistent where it comes from. Any idea what it is coming from? Appears as if some sort of worm is spitting out last nights dinner. I do have a 6 line wrasse and have read they sometimes make slime blankets, though I don’t see how it’d get inside the rock this is coming from.

It’s difficult to get a good picture of it, though you can see it in the attached video.

Bob Loblaw · Dec 30, 2019

Oenone fulgidas will leave slime like that...

sixty_reefer · Dec 30, 2019

Can’t see the video and the pic is too blue. a vermitid snail or a comb jelly would fit your description

ESH · Dec 30, 2019

Oenone fulgidas seems to be the closest match. Definitely isn't a vermetid snail.

I did take the rock its coming from out and searched through it but didn't see anything other then a couple of pistol shrimp.

I'm pretty sure I've seen the mucous from this thing since I setup the tank. The only odd missing things I've had are snails but I figured other clean up crews simply got them when they were too big. Next time I see the slime coming out I'll have to try the tube and fish food trick I've read about.

Bob Loblaw · Dec 30, 2019

Highly unlikely you’ll see one in daylight without breaking the rock. These are much more cautious than your typical bristleworm. Don’t touch the worm or the mucus blob- results in an unpleasant burning sensation.

Rock out of my old 120.

ESH · Dec 30, 2019

Well, I'm really hoping that it is just my 6 line wrasses mucous bubble. Looks very similar to the one in this video.

It would make sense that I only see it as the lights come on, and during that time frame flow from pumps is picking up which would cause it to push out from what ever rock it was hiding in. When I looked through the rock, there are lots of caves in the rock that the fish could fit in. I've also seen other fish pick at the mucous but never eat it, so if it causes a burning sensation Im sure it would of effected the fish too.