While feeding my sun corals a short time ago I noticed that the bristleworms all seemed more active than they usually do at feeding time. Next thing I knew I saw a poof of what looked like smoke swirl out from behind a zoa colony. I then noticed that the bristleworms would almost stand up off the rock or wherever they were and they'd squirt out a dense stream of what I know now to be ..eggs and pink sperm.
I grabbed the camera and shot the pics below.
It was really something to witness and in no time at all the water looked like skim milk.
This event went on for about 10 minutes and afterwards the bristleworms started crawling over the rocks and corals and a number of them climbed up onto upright corals such as my Devils Hand and and Xenias. They first circled the coral and would work their way to the top and then stand up off the coral with about 1 inch of their body stretching into the water column. This part of the event lasted about 5 minutes.
They've all since gone back into the rock work now and the only bristle worms I see now are the smaller variety.
It took the tank near an hour to clear.
I understand the lunar cycle may have something to do with the timing of this and I'd done a water change last night which also seems to be a factor in the timing.
Enjoy the pics!
I grabbed the camera and shot the pics below.
It was really something to witness and in no time at all the water looked like skim milk.
This event went on for about 10 minutes and afterwards the bristleworms started crawling over the rocks and corals and a number of them climbed up onto upright corals such as my Devils Hand and and Xenias. They first circled the coral and would work their way to the top and then stand up off the coral with about 1 inch of their body stretching into the water column. This part of the event lasted about 5 minutes.
They've all since gone back into the rock work now and the only bristle worms I see now are the smaller variety.
It took the tank near an hour to clear.
I understand the lunar cycle may have something to do with the timing of this and I'd done a water change last night which also seems to be a factor in the timing.
Enjoy the pics!
