Unseen Excavators

[Joe Fish]

Lately I have been noticing large sand movement. I'm sure it's not my powerheads. I only have 2 firefish, a lawnmower blenny, some hermits and snails, and a cleaner shrimp. Any one have any input on what this could be? I try to go in late at night and turn the lights on with a dimmer switch. I can't see anything. My firefish don't come out at night and my blenny goes into his cave and sleeps.

 

[cinlnk]

Could it be a nasty bristle worm? I have a couple of those in my tank. Sofar, they arent hurting anything.... I just hate them.

 

[fish outa wata]

Most likely some type of worm from the lr. If you have a flashlight with a red filter (like on the boyscout lights) you will be able to see any night creatures without scaring them. I found a big worm the other night, not sure what species yet but it was crazy.

 

[Joe Fish]

When is the best time to observe them? Or where should I look for them??? In the rock or the sand? I heard they aren't a threat, but more of a help to the tank.

It's been a while since I was last in the scouts, but what coud I use for the red tint? Just to put over a flashlight?

 

[1979camaro]

a red plastic bag maybe?

 

[fish outa wata]

yeah I only mentioned the boyscout light cause it comes with the little color discs. I use my buddy's red lens for his camera. It works perfectly. I actually found two tiny brittle stars that way poking from a piece of LR a few nights ago.

 

[amd]

there is red tape at auto part stores that have red tint tape for fixing taillights.
w

 

[fish outa wata]

yeah that probably would work too. good cheap fix.

 

[Joe Fish]

Thanks for the tips. I hope it's something cool that is doing it. I just can't believe I haven't seen what has been doing this. I only have 5 rocks. If it is a bristle worm I hope it dont' appear like that monster someone posted a little while ago. Bristle stars would be cool if that's what was causing it. Are bristle worms nocturnal?

 

[Mushroomman]

Could possibly be the fish, my clown had a knack for moving sand around, gets down there and flicks his fin.

 

[Joe Fish]

The firefish or the blenny? I don't see my firefish after 9pm and definitely after the lights go out. I guess it could be benny, the blenny.

 

[fish outa wata]

This site is pretty nice overall but here is his "worm incident" Oregonreef.com

 

[Mushroomman]

Yeah it wouldnt be the firefish... tough to say, only way to find out is to catch the culprit I guess.

 

[Joe Fish]

I'm looking now for what I can cover a flashlight with. It's quite interesting to think about what it could be. It's probably just the blenny. The shrimp barely ever leaves his rock.

 

[Lorna]

It is probably just your powerheads depends how much sand is moved.....if it hits the glass just right it will make drifts of sand in odd places..I have a pistol shrimp that could go head to head with my sandsifting goby......for the amount he moves in a day......

 

[JWright]

Wouldn't be suprised if it were the blenny. They like to shuffle around on the sand a lot, could be disturbing it enough for the powerhead to kick it around.

 

[Joe Fish]

I'm pretty sure now it's the blenny. He dug himself a hole under one of the rocks so I guess I can assume he is the culprite.

 

[Lorna]

Well if you saw him digging a hole my money is on the blenny. Mine has a couple of holes in my live rock staked out that are his.....funny to watch him back into these holes......one day there may just be something in that hole to give him a start.....

 

[Joe Fish]

Mine seems to move frequently. At first he stayed mainly in one hole on one rock. Then he moved to a different rock. The this AM I found him coming out of a dark hole under a rock.