Bristle Worms???

[ropemed]

I recently spotted a worm that has 3 long tentacles coming off his head. He looks like it's about 7 maybe 8 inches long. What is it??? I've had several turbo snails come up dead lately for no reason. Is this the culprit??

[Chuck S]

Can you snap a picture? I would suspect that it is a nudibranch ( sea slug ) I would not think it killed the snails. Snails can die for a number of reasons as temperature fluctuations, salinity changes, hermit crabs being the #1 one enemy in our tanks unless you have a wrasse which like inverts.

[purduemaximus]

Actually I think Turbo Snails just die for fun sometimes. LOL I have had 6 die, but from what I heard that is just the nature of the beast with these these little snail guys. If they fall off the side of the glass they somehow never recover. Plus my angel eats their eyes off when the stick them up.

[ropemed]

I've been trying to get a picture for about a week. I don't think it's a nudibranch. This thing looks almost like a giant centipede. It has a lot of legs!! I can only get within 5 or 6 feet of the tank without spooking it.

[Chuck S]

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ropemed said:
I recently spotted a worm that has 3 long tentacles coming off his head.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is why I suggested it was a nudibranch without a picture. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I do not know of many bristleworms with appendages off their heads. However looking like a centipede thats a bristleworm. Again I do not think he is the snail killer as their are way more reason's the snails could have died. Unless you start seeing alot of things dieing and such I would not worry. Bristleworms are good for your sand bed. As with any critter just keep an eye on him.