ID Please - Black Worms Everywhere!!

[MechEng99]

Hello all!

Well, I found one to baffle me again. In my measley 3 years of reefkeeping, I've never seen this one.

I have 4 aquariums...recently set up two from the water of the other two. Today, one of the two new tanks was COVERED in thousands of tiny black worms everywhere...glass, rocks, and eggcrate. They're creepy...like something out of a nightmare.

The tank where the water came from has no signs of these. So, either something is controlling them in the original tank...or these came from somewhere else. I've only put a few fish in the new tank to QT them.

Here are the pictures. Any and all help is appreciated (b/c I'll have nightmares if I put my hand in the tank before then!!)

 

[charlesr1958]

Without being able to see any details of the worms, its hard to say exactly what they are, but my first guess would be a Nematode species, as most worms are, they are harmless and are probably feeding on detritus / left over food and should be looked upon as important members of your clean up crew.

Chuck

 

[LeslieH]

Shape's wrong for nematodes Chuck. They're probably oligochaetes or a small polychaete. They're also harmless.

The rocks in the new tanks are also new? If so, I bet they came in with them and the predators didn't. the population will either outstrip the food supply & crash or something will come along to eat them.

 

[MechEng99]

Thanks to both of you!

No, the rocks were dry base rock (and were cleaned with muriatic acid and bleach (separately) prior to placing into the tank.) The tank was seeded with water from another one of my tanks. I've never seen them in the tank where the water came from.

As long as they're harmless, we're good. I had two fish in QT in there...and after I removed them, 2 weeks later those worms appeared. I was worried they were an internal parasite in the fish. (One fish is not eating.)

I think I still might try to find something to eat them. They gross me out in that high of a population! LOL.

 

[charlesr1958]

Hi ya Leslie! Thanks for the correction, the only thing about the worms that stood out to me was their appearing somewhat transparent and gut loaded, which I've only ever seen Nematodes like that and was of course the only thing that came to mind.

Chuck