Need Identification

[aldouglas]

I have a new tank that's been cycling for about 10 days. I wanted to see if there was any nocturnal life in the tank and with a flashlight, I saw what looked like long strands of spider web coming from the cracks of some of the LR attached to other rocks. When the light hit them, they slowly retracted one by one into the cracks. Some were as long as 6" - 8". Any idea what they might be?

 

[Shanna349]

picture?

 

[aldouglas]

Don't know if I'll be able to get a picture. Next time I see it I'll turn the lights on and try to get a picture before it retracts.

 

[rwoolley]

I've got one such similar creature living in my LR as well, although mine comes out with the lights on all the time. It appears to send out a web to capture food floating in the water column, then slowly retracts it and collects whatever has stuck to its web. Pretty cool. I can probably get a photo of it, as it comes out all the time, but it's a very fine strand of web and may not show up too well. :wink:

 

[c0yote]

Sounds like a spagetti worm - check out the hh faq or the rest of the site to see if it's a match.

 

[aldouglas]

Thanks for the replies. Haven't seen mine in the day yet, and I'll check out the FAQ. Starting to see some other signs of life.

 

[rwoolley]

I know its difficult to see since it's so small. In the oval is the spider web-like stuff collecting food. In the circle is the creature, it has a round flat disk on its head like a manhole cover that flaps down when it retreats.
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[paats]

It`s a snail, although I forget the name.

 

[paats]

Vermetid snail I think

 

[aldouglas]

rwoolley, I can't see your picture.

 

[aldouglas]

after I posted the reply about not seeing the picture, there it was. I think what I have is the spaghetti worm. The pictures I've seen of it look very close, but I haven't seen the body.

 

[rwoolley]

Good call... I did a search of Vermetid snail on Google and from the photos and descriptions I see, that's definitely what it is... mine anyway. Thanks for the ID.

 

[rwoolley]

after I posted the reply about not seeing the picture, there it was. I think what I have is the spaghetti worm. The pictures I've seen of it look very close, but I haven't seen the body.

Yes... a picture IS worth a thousand words.... good luck.