Weird worm

[dizzy]

I caught this strange worm swimming at the top of a 75-gallon reef. It swims with a quivering motion. It is about 1" in length and about 1/8" in diameter but it is not exactly round. It appears almost translucent with a redish color that seems to move inside the body. It almost seems like it has a quill shape like a sea pen, but it is defintely worm looking. Does anyone know what it is. Is it beast or beauty? I am going to attempt to attach this picture directly from my memory stick.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe this is the "tail end" of a polychate. Some worms reproduce by filling the 'tail' with gametes. The tail breaks off and heads for the surface. Once there it breaks apart and releases gametes into the water column.

 

[saltcritter]

I found,(in my sump) the same bugger, but mine is 4-5 inches long, closer to 5. :?

Yours is a little stumpy but I would say the same family, same legs and does the same little dance.

I have had many of the darker worms do that squigully little dance at the top of the water and then get sucked into the overflow system.

I have such a worm post, right here and the title is Got a LONG! one for you all!.
Check it out and compare the type of worm against my pic.

I can get name and address of this critter if nobody can figure it out here at this site.

I find there are not as many helpfull people around when you might need them. :?

It seams liek a simple question that I am sure MANY people can answer, but of course the High Brow SINDROM is running rampent these days.

I would bet you 999percent out of 1000percent of the knowledgeable people in this hobby that help out a little with passing out knowledge here and other sites, have a book on this exact critter and would not open it and tell you if your tank depended on it.

But I would bet they write you about people's miss spelling, A whole long book on that subject. :?

There are sites like Garf.com and others that have pics and al kinds of knowledge about worms in this hobbie.

To the gent that said a couple of things about worms:
THANKS so much!
I would also think the main question is:
Is the WORM safe?/ What size will it grow and HOW many children/corals will it eat in one sitting? :evil:

Just a thought? :wink: