What is that??!!!

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:28 am

Ok so just decided to get rid of the Crypt Moehlmani (sp?) and pulled it out of the 15, in the process an 8" worm that looks EXACTLY like a bristleworm in SW came flying off it. It scurried around the tank for a bit before landing on the substrate and promptly nosediving back in.

15g EC and Soil substrate, was heavily now mostly planted. no noticeable mouth but definetely the biggest damn thing in the tank.

short of nuking from orbit, little help please!

ddavila06 · Post by **ddavila06** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:46 pm

could that be a khuli loach?

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:26 pm

not unless a kuhli became flat, pinkish red and has spikes (for lack of a better term) running down both sides

Kets · Post by **Kets** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:51 pm

Pics?

ddavila06 · Post by **ddavila06** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:03 pm

spikes? reddish? flat?!!! interesting

some weird parasitic worm or something, did you tried google? look around the picture section...a picture would be really kool unless is lost in the aquarium gravel again

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:36 pm

Im not demolishing the tank to track it down.

Im trying to get the bumblees to breed and want to limit the destruction until I move the tank over to the new tank once I get it together.

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:39 am

It could very well be a bristleworm, or polycheates. They have been known to transition between environments from full fresh to full marine. Its possible the larvae came in with your substrate or plants.

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:49 am

GAHHHHHH I have a distinct hatred of Bristleworms from my dealings with them in the store.

crap, looks like Ill be sifting to get it and any little relatives out of the substrate before the transition.

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:05 am

http://www.barrreport.com/inverts/2244- ... eworm.html

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:56 pm

Yes it is a freshwater bristleworm. There have been many reports of
them but as of yet no one has reported any harm. I have had them in a
tank and I got rid of them.

so yes I have a freshwater bristleworm and the general consensus is to leave it alone unless it starts attacking fish etc.

Considering that the Cherries just sat there when it dove under their feet I figure it is mostly harmless. Im not really happy about having it BUT it seems to be a sign of a healthy tank and beneficial in the fact that it is eating the deitritus that the snails/shrimp arent.

Looking at the tank this morning I did notice a large amount of very juvenile cherries in the original area of the crypt, so it doesnt seem to be causing an issue.

If I can trap the worm, I may try to get a picture of it but for the moment it is "safe" in the tank.

What is that??!!!

What is that??!!!

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