Bristleworm?

[bingncrash]

Ok,
I came home tonight when the lights were out, and caught this guy going down the glass. He's about 1/2 inch long, and this shot is the best I could take. It's got legs and antenna. It moves pretty fast. I turned the lights on just to get a clearer shot of it.
'Anyone know what it is? Good, Bad?
Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

From that picture it's of the class Polychaeta, probably a harmless omnivore.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen many with the exact profile, not that that means much, but I have witnessed them scraping algae off the glass. I agree with David, probably a harmless/beneficial omnivore, definately a Polychaete (Bristleworm).

 

[bingncrash]

Thanks much! ...time to do more research. :lol:

 

[bingncrash]

After a week or so, I'm begining to see many more of these guys on the glass, especially after the lights go out. They are also free swiming, and then swim all over the tank. They vary in length from 1/8 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch.

 

[Anonymous]

The free-swimming are probably the Epitoke stage for this worm. That is how this particular worm reproduces if I'm close with my ID guess of Dorvillidae.

 

[romunov]

I don't think they're always epitokes. I see worms in my tank "swim" with the current, only to land at a different place. I'm guessing that they're in search of new habitats.