Id please

p7seas · 01/31/2010, 09:26 PM

hello, I am just curious about these little conical mounds of white spaghetti that are forming all over the bottom of my sand bed. I noticed that from time to time a strand of the spaghetti looking stuff is discharged from the top like Mt. vesuvious erupting.I imagine it's some kind of worm ,but I just thought I'd check to see if anyone could ID this in case it might be something harmful to the tank.These mounds are a little exciting because they are the first sign of life I've seen in my tank while it's cycling.Thanks for your help

wab · 01/31/2010, 09:36 PM

Welcome to rc, Its hard to say what it is, can you post a pic and your parameters so we can give you an educated quess.

MandM · 01/31/2010, 09:38 PM

Funnily enough, it may be a spaghetti worm.

Octoshark · 01/31/2010, 11:02 PM

From your description I was gonna say spaghetti worms as well, do you have a picture just to verify though?

Sisterlimonpot · 02/01/2010, 12:10 AM

+3 from the description sounds like spaghetti worms

LeslieH · 02/01/2010, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p7seas

hello, I am just curious about these little conical mounds of white spaghetti that are forming all over the bottom of my sand bed. I noticed that from time to time a strand of the spaghetti looking stuff is discharged from the top like Mt. vesuvious erupting.

If the strands belonged to either a terebellid (= spaghetti worm) or cirratulid (= hair worm) they would be constantly moving. Having some of them erupt from the mound doesn't sound very worm-like either. Why don't you dig up some of the strands, put them into a shallow dish with some water & take a close-up picture?

Frick-n-Frags · 02/01/2010, 07:01 AM

eeez mebbe guano senor?

p7seas · 02/01/2010, 07:54 PM

yeah,I'd love to post a pic but my camera just quit on me the other day.Imagine if you took a fork full of spaghetti and twirled it into a inverted ice cream cone shape.that's what this looks like.The spaghetti stands seam to be discharged, processed sand that is coming from the center of the mound and wrapping around the mound making it bigger and bigger.The minute you diturb the mound it disentigrates back into sand.I'm going to try to grt a new camera this weekend

Chiefsurfer · 02/01/2010, 09:13 PM

where did you buy/get your sand? This definitively sounds like a burrowing thing, like maybe a worm like a bristle worm, or the like. Like a earthworm spits it's "castings" at the hole of where it digs into the ground.

LeslieH · 02/01/2010, 11:25 PM

Yep, that's what's known as pseudofeces or castings. The worm swallows sand & digests off the organics. As the sand passes through the gut it gets encased by mucus & forms these long strands. Usually the pile is swept away by current or other animals swallowing it for the nutritional value of the mucus but in a new tank it will just sit there.

Frick-n-Frags · 02/02/2010, 07:33 AM

si, eez guano.

p7seas · 02/02/2010, 04:58 PM

I bought my sand from the LFS.It was labelled as live agronite sand.I came home from work today and noticed I have a crab living in the hole of one of my live rocks.Sooo cool.Thanks for your help.These worms aren't a bad thing right.

Chiefsurfer · 02/02/2010, 05:20 PM

MOST worms are a non-issue, as they are detrivores, and eat almost exclusively detritus(fish poop and left-over food). There are HOWEVER, a few not-good worms. If you get a pic, we might be able to give you a more specific ID, and give you a better idea of whether or not it is bad.

LeslieH · 02/03/2010, 12:08 AM

If it's pooping out sand that's a pretty good indication that it's a sand eater. ;-D

01/31/2010, 09:26 PM	#1
p7seas Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 45	Id please hello, I am just curious about these little conical mounds of white spaghetti that are forming all over the bottom of my sand bed. I noticed that from time to time a strand of the spaghetti looking stuff is discharged from the top like Mt. vesuvious erupting.I imagine it's some kind of worm ,but I just thought I'd check to see if anyone could ID this in case it might be something harmful to the tank.These mounds are a little exciting because they are the first sign of life I've seen in my tank while it's cycling.Thanks for your help

01/31/2010, 09:36 PM	#2
wab Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj Posts: 512	Welcome to rc, Its hard to say what it is, can you post a pic and your parameters so we can give you an educated quess. __________________ 1 year plus and still I DON'T KNOW!!!! LOL Current Tank Info: 45 high 30 breeder sump/refuge diy

01/31/2010, 09:38 PM	#3
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	Funnily enough, it may be a spaghetti worm. __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g Last edited by MandM; 01/31/2010 at 09:43 PM.

01/31/2010, 11:02 PM	#4
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	From your description I was gonna say spaghetti worms as well, do you have a picture just to verify though? __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

02/01/2010, 12:10 AM	#5
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	+3 from the description sounds like spaghetti worms __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

02/01/2010, 07:01 AM	#7
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	eeez mebbe guano senor? __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

02/01/2010, 07:54 PM	#8
p7seas Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 45	yeah,I'd love to post a pic but my camera just quit on me the other day.Imagine if you took a fork full of spaghetti and twirled it into a inverted ice cream cone shape.that's what this looks like.The spaghetti stands seam to be discharged, processed sand that is coming from the center of the mound and wrapping around the mound making it bigger and bigger.The minute you diturb the mound it disentigrates back into sand.I'm going to try to grt a new camera this weekend

02/01/2010, 09:13 PM	#9
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	where did you buy/get your sand? This definitively sounds like a burrowing thing, like maybe a worm like a bristle worm, or the like. Like a earthworm spits it's "castings" at the hole of where it digs into the ground. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

02/01/2010, 11:25 PM	#10
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Yep, that's what's known as pseudofeces or castings. The worm swallows sand & digests off the organics. As the sand passes through the gut it gets encased by mucus & forms these long strands. Usually the pile is swept away by current or other animals swallowing it for the nutritional value of the mucus but in a new tank it will just sit there. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

02/02/2010, 07:33 AM	#11
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	si, eez guano. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

02/02/2010, 04:58 PM	#12
p7seas Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 45	I bought my sand from the LFS.It was labelled as live agronite sand.I came home from work today and noticed I have a crab living in the hole of one of my live rocks.Sooo cool.Thanks for your help.These worms aren't a bad thing right.

02/02/2010, 05:20 PM	#13
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	MOST worms are a non-issue, as they are detrivores, and eat almost exclusively detritus(fish poop and left-over food). There are HOWEVER, a few not-good worms. If you get a pic, we might be able to give you a more specific ID, and give you a better idea of whether or not it is bad. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

02/03/2010, 12:08 AM	#14
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	If it's pooping out sand that's a pretty good indication that it's a sand eater. ;-D __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County