Ant Hills

[BrandonS]

Just have a quick question. Every so often I notice a hill or two pop up that look pretty much like ant hills (the northeastern kind not the ones int he south that are huge) in my sand. I don't see anything visibly living in them and after a week or so they crumble back down except for the center section that has some sand grains clumped together.

What makes these things?

[bertoni]

Probably a sand-dwelling worm. They are good to have.

[dwculp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8851383#post8851383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrandonS
Just have a quick question. Every so often I notice a hill or two pop up that look pretty much like ant hills (the northeastern kind not the ones int he south that are huge) in my sand. I don't see anything visibly living in them and after a week or so they crumble back down except for the center section that has some sand grains clumped together.

What makes these things?

I have the exact same thing happen. Overnight the fine sand will be piled up in little piles about 3-4 inches in diameter. 2.5 years and I still have no idea what makes the sand hills.

[BrandonS]

That's how mine seem to work. They just appear and then crumble away over time. I was thinking maybe my urchin, but i'm doubting that because he's rarely on the sand bed and there'd be more than one or two.

[mfp4073]

I have the same thing in one of my tanks, but there is NOTHING in it beside sand and a little rock. Its just waiting to be taken down, but I feel bad about these poor critters.

[phurst]

My spaghetti worms do this in my tank. There are well defined mounds, and if I look closely, I can see their tentacles sticling out.