sand tubes?

[eddified]

does anyone else notice these thin veiny like tubes growing upwards out of their sand? there also encrusted with sand and i tried breaking one in half today and noticed somethin brown and soft on the inside....sorry i have no pic to display but the best way i can describe them is as if my sand was growing branches up from under itself....

thanks

 

[nodea717]

Worms in the sand... a good sign. What makes it "living sand". Many more amazing little wonders will pop up.

 

[eddified]

thanks for the info nodea....do u know the names of these worms so i can maybe google em? or maybe an informative link on live sand bed critters?

 

[cloak]

Phyllochaetopterus sp.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Here's One

Photo by Marc Levenson on Melevsreef.com

 

[Paintbug]

theres a few species that will make tubes from sand. the more common two are Chaetopterid and Spionid worms.

 

[nodea717]

Amazing site... this is all you need (for now

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marind5_5.htm

 

[WaterKeeper]

I always thought that Spirobids and Chaetopterids had a secreted calcerous tube rather than a sand tube.