Gyrating helicopter worms in SW

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snapcrackler

Aquarium Advice Addict
Joined
Sep 29, 2003
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Location
Iowa
Has anyone ever seen a worm emerge from their LR and swim around, by rapidly spinning one end of itself?

It "flies" around like a helicopter, didnt get a pic in time.

Color - tan
size - 2" long X 1/8 thick
Looks like - an earthworm (sorta)
 
I'm not 100% sure on this, but there is a reproductive stage of the bristleworm called the *epitoke* stage - in this stage, the worm is small, and swims in the water by a "spinning" movement. They often do this in swarms, but I imagine it could be solitary.
 
I thought the same thing when I first saw this post but this part threw me...

snapcrackler said:
size - 2" long X 1/8 thick
:?:

Cheers
Steve
 
I agree with your first assessment Reeflady. It's an Epitoke. For some species it's not just the tail or a piece of the worm that lets go. Some species turn their entire bodies into gametes and swim around recklessly until they hit an object and explode.
 
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