ID help please....... Worm thingy ?

FourWindsDealer · 04/06/2008, 10:53 PM

I just looked into my tank (lights are off), and saw a STRANGE wormlike critter swimming ? near the top of the water.

It is 3/4 to 1 inch in length, about the diameter of a straight pin,, creamy white in color, and propels itself by curving/straightening its body VERY rapidly. So rapidly in fact that its body contained 3-4 complete "S's" at any given moment. It looked like a white swizzle stick. I've never seen anything like it before in my tank.....

I understand a pic would be better, but unfortunately I don't have that capability at the moment.

I was lucky enough to suck it up with the everpresent turkey baster however !!!!!!

Any ideas what this critter could be ?????

justinl · 04/07/2008, 03:32 AM

You probably saw an epitoke. wetwebmedia had an article that mentioned them somewhere...

An epitoke is just the reproductive stage of a lot of annelid worms. They go planktonic (hence the swimming) and cast their sperm to the mercy of the currents and hope for the best.

04/06/2008, 10:53 PM	#1
FourWindsDealer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michiana Posts: 82	ID help please....... Worm thingy ? I just looked into my tank (lights are off), and saw a STRANGE wormlike critter swimming ? near the top of the water. It is 3/4 to 1 inch in length, about the diameter of a straight pin,, creamy white in color, and propels itself by curving/straightening its body VERY rapidly. So rapidly in fact that its body contained 3-4 complete "S's" at any given moment. It looked like a white swizzle stick. I've never seen anything like it before in my tank..... I understand a pic would be better, but unfortunately I don't have that capability at the moment. I was lucky enough to suck it up with the everpresent turkey baster however !!!!!! Any ideas what this critter could be ????? Last edited by FourWindsDealer; 04/06/2008 at 11:23 PM.

04/07/2008, 03:32 AM	#2
justinl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,118	You probably saw an epitoke. wetwebmedia had an article that mentioned them somewhere... An epitoke is just the reproductive stage of a lot of annelid worms. They go planktonic (hence the swimming) and cast their sperm to the mercy of the currents and hope for the best.