What is this

[stevensbud]

I notice this in my tank this morning any idea what it is looks like a bunch of worms getting together

 

[Labridaedicted]

Now THATS fascinating! Certainly a cluster of worms. I'd wager either feeding or breeding. Looks like some kind of flatworm but hard to say from the pic. Any way you could get a closer pic so it's easier to see the individuals a little clearer?

 

[stevensbud]

That's probably about as good as I can get

 

[Labridaedicted]

Ok, actually with those Cilia, I may have to modify my original guess. It's more likely a polychaete. This may take a little bit of research to figure out for sure.

 

[Labridaedicted]

So I suspect these are juvenile polychaetes, more than likely a detritivore like bristleworms or similar given the swarming behavior which tends to be more common in scavengers. I'm not 100% on this ID, though, to be fully transparent. I am *relatively* confident in it, though.

 

[stevensbud]

So I suspect these are juvenile polychaetes, more than likely a detritivore like bristleworms or similar given the swarming behavior which tends to be more common in scavengers. I'm not 100% on this ID, though, to be fully transparent. I am *relatively* confident in it,

So I suspect these are juvenile polychaetes, more than likely a detritivore like bristleworms or similar given the swarming behavior which tends to be more common in scavengers. I'm not 100% on this ID, though, to be fully transparent. I am *relatively* confident in it, though.

Thank you. I'm gonna do some research. Is it something I should worry about?

 

[MrGisonni]

Probably baby polychaetes. The setae (bristle like appendages) are the tell. I wonder, are they eating a seaslug or is the entire mass worms?

 

[stevensbud]

Probably baby polychaetes. The setae (bristle like appendages) are

Probably baby polychaetes. The setae (bristle like appendages) are the tell.

Is it something to worry about. I read there good unless they and the poisonous ones

 

[Tired]

It's less about if they're venomous and more about if they'll eat anything you want them not to eat, which is probably unlikely.

 

[MrGisonni]

Pretty much harmless detritovores, though some larger species may eat corals. Fireworms have toxins in their setae. It burns, swells then feels like you were playing with raw fiberglass.

 

[Rp8]

i would probably take out the Chunk of worms. That’s a lot and even if it determined to be a good hitchhiker, to much of a good thing can be bad. Your tank tho

 

[stevensbud]

Thank you everyone. Very helpfull

 

[Cell]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, as mentioned, those are definitely polychaetes (bristle worms of some variety), but this is a first for me to see them in those kinds of numbers. I'd have to agree that that sort of clustering behavior does strike me as either a feeding or mating conglomeration. Unfortunately, I don't know know which species you've got here or which of the two behaviors this is demonstrating.

Either way, though, this is super cool to see!

 

[stevensbud]

Yeah, as mentioned, those are definitely polychaetes (bristle worms of some variety), but this is a first for me to see them in those kinds of numbers. I'd have to agree that that sort of clustering behavior does strike me as either a feeding or mating conglomeration. Unfortunately, I don't know know which species you've got here or which of the two behaviors this is demonstrating.

Either way, though, this is super cool to see!

Thank you. I'm not sure what kind or if they are good or bad I vacuumed them out just in case

 

[stevensbud]

Probably baby polychaetes. The setae (bristle like appendages) are the tell. I wonder, are they eating a seaslug or is the entire mass worms?

All worms