Whoah - wierd looking tube worm thing growing amongst shroom

[Scoot]

This has been slowly growing. I didn't realize how ugly it was until I got a macro shot of it.

 

[kansei]

I don't know what it is but thats a good picture.

 

[Scoot]

Thanks. You should see the full-sized image (3000x2000 some pixels).

My wife and I own a small photography studio, I used our Canon XTi DSLR with a 100MM macro lens at ISO 1600. A little curve levelling and noise reduction in photoshop. No flash.

 

[Devilishturtles]

Vermetid gastropod? Does it ever release any web like substance?

 

[Fluff]

Vermetid gastropod? Does it ever release any web like substance?

This is my assumption as well. I can see what appears to be a thin mucus strand in the pic.

 

[Scoot]

It does release a stringy white stuff, similar to what shrooms release when they, um, expell waste?

 

[chase33]

Mighty ugly critter

 

[MT79]

It does release a stringy white stuff

I have a lot of them. When I blow off the rock or stir up some sand in my tank it looks like someone sprayed silly string or something. It disappears as the water clears. Over all a good critter to have IMO. They seem to be great consumers of detritus.

 

[schulze]

http://www.mbayaq.org/video/video_snailnet_feeding_qt.asp

 

[Ziggy953]

Great video!!! thanks for sharing! I have tons of them in my tanks as well....Every once in a while a fish will swim through the webs and have it stuck to them. I agree with Mike they seem to snag up waste...

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Agree with others... looks like a big cobweb in my tank when I blow off the rocks! I have to admit though, seeing that macro shot gives me the shivers knowing what those little tiny tubes look like close up!

 

[MT79]

I always get a kick out of watching them haul in their catch heh. Thanks for the video schulze.

 

[Philosophicles]

I have similar tube worms!

The tube worms I have are smaller, and release smaller strands of webs. I don't have pics yet but I will make some and post them.

 

[Scoot]

Here's some shots of it reeling in a catch

 

[roka64]

Wow! Those are incredible shots!

 

[MT79]

Great pics!

 

[chase33]

What is it he's pulling in?

 

[Fluff]

Looks like mysid. Awesome pics!

 

[nicksgirl]

Who would have thought we'd find such an acomplished "underwater" photographer in Nebraska? (smiling but not kidding) Your photos are great!

 

[Scoot]

He's pulling in a bit of mysis.

Thanks for the compliments. I do have a small photography business on the side, but I mostly do fashion photos (models, etc) and stuff. I tried using some strobes on my tank for the first time last week - it's amazing how much easier that makes things. I'll have to spend some time getting some new photos.