Unidentified Swimming Object "Anybody"

[tenwhiteduke]

OK after getting Joes Juice into the Aptasia's last night, this morning another new thing appeared in my tank. I dont have a picture but here it goes.

Small 3/4" long worm looking thing. Light brown in color that was moving so fast around the tank I couldnt get a good look at it. It was moving so fast that at first I thought it was a daddy long legs flying on the outside of the tank till I got up closer. Then after a few second skimming around the top of the tank, it dropped out of site behind the rocks.

Any ideas???

 

[tenwhiteduke]

To me it did look like some kind of worm. It was thin maybe 1/8" or so and again 3/4" long, light brown didnt see a head at all, was going so fast.

 

[SeaView]

I see worms swimming all the time after lights out. Hard to ID them but probably nothing to worry about.

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

have you ever seen hose little worms that swim like a corkscrew or side-winder or something? I have, so did the fish , don't see them anymore.

 

[tenwhiteduke]

So its nothing I should worry about?

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

seriously, if you see major damage to your corals and fish for no apparent reason, then get suspicious. Otherwise, most little buggers have their own little agenda and if they aren't detritus/dust filterers they usually starve out.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I know what this is, and I ALWAYS get the name confused. LeslieH or Paintbug usually comes in here and corrects me It's a polychaete worm's reproduction method. It's a little worm that wiggles in the water. I always want to call it a Eukaryote, but I know that's not it. Come on! Paintbug/LeslieH where are you to correct me?

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Found it; "Epitoke"! That's the word that I was looking for.

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

interesting

interesting word

 

[tenwhiteduke]

I looked up pictures of the Epitoke, and that doesnt look like it.

 

[tenwhiteduke]

These pics all look like they have hair follicals, antenas or legs, whatever they are. This thing didnt have that at all, it was all plain like an earthworm, but light brown (tan) in color, and moving so fast around the tank. If i see it again, will try to get it out and snap a pic. Will do so tonight if I can find him.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Epitoke is a method of reproduction. Not all epitokes look alike. In fact, it was probably an epitoke of a common bristleworm (Eurythoe complanata). Did they swim around really fast in a similar motion like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6chh-_5hAgg

 

[tenwhiteduke]

No, he was swimming from one side of the tank to the other, in straight lines, zipping accross so fast you could hardly see him. Up, down, and across the tank, not flinching like those in the video. You can also see how they look hairy. This one, not at all.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9523212#post9523212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tenwhiteduke
No, he was swimming from one side of the tank to the other, in straight lines, zipping accross so fast you could hardly see him. Up, down, and across the tank, not flinching like those in the video. You can also see how they look hairy. This one, not at all.

BTW, those were mosquito larvae. Their movement is like a slow twitch compared to epitoke movement. I wonder if it was a Mysid Shrimp (Possum Shrimp)?

 

[tenwhiteduke]

Nope def not a shrimp. You will see tonight if I can get a picture of him.