Tropical Fish Forums

Pete Harcoff · Advisors Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Location: Canada

I was checking out my tank tonight with the moon lighting on, and I noticed this small white thing moving around in the current. At first I thought it was just a loose piece of debris, until I noticed it seemed to be changing direction too fast for the current.

Looking at it closer, it appeared to be some sort of worm. It kept doing this corkscrew-type move with it's body as it swam in the current. Finally it landed on a rock and I got a brief look at it before it disappeared under some algae.

It was white in colour with black down the back. Not very big, maybe 1 cm long.

I thought I'd gotten used to seeing critters in my tank, but there's always something that comes along and surprises me. Any ideas what it was?

number6 · Moderators Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada

I've never given these little guys a second thought... occasionally they swim off a rock during the day as well, they're just harder to spot....
I'll say the scientific name of these guys would be "little white worms" Laughing

As your tank matures, you'll have many more surprises... I don't think it ever stops... part of the fun of a reef tank....
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"Just don't look in my fish room honey... it's just better for all of us. "

SoS · Advisors Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Location: PA, USA

did it have lil spikes all over its body?

bristleworms can be white with a brown. They are fine small. The large ones can eat fish in your tank and your inverts.

I had one that was 8 inches long.
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150 Gallon (567.811768 liters) community tank, 50 Gallon African Tank, 7 reef tanks, 6 FOLR, 28 freshwater tanks