Bristle worms spawn? Sperm? What?

[SabrinaJean]

Today after doing a water change, i noticed some pink stuff being squarted into the water. I thought a worm died ( Because I always try to take them out, and if that fails, I poke them with a kabob stick, since i hate worms) then I noticed another squart and 3 more following. I then found some pink something in the sand, mayb sperm? Have anyone seen this before in your tank? How can u tell if they are bristle worms or fire worms?
Some of my worms are white, pink, orange, and other are tan and half silver, but some don't always have the red flares or the " bearded face"? I need to find out if these guys were spawing, or if they just reproduce by dropping off their tail, which then become full grown worms :(
Help

[JamesBryan]

The bristle worms I have are the common "beneficial" ones you see pics of on many websites. The offspring are almost clear in color when tiny (5mm). I am not sure if they lay eggs, live birth or what. They reproduce quickly if feed daily. I was raising amphipods and feeding them daily. The bristleworms came with the 'live sand' and exploded in population.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=253404

[charlesr1958]

Not sure why you would want to remove or kill the best members of your clean-up crew, but what you are seeing is most likely spawning events. A good many polychaete species create specialized body sections called "swarmers" that their sole purpose is to swim up into the currents and release their payloads of either eggs or sperm.
I have more information and some photo details within the worm section of my hitch hiker pages.

A Hitch Hikers Guide to the Reefs (http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html)

Chuck

[ed4]

Personally, worms skeave me out too, but I'd also recommend keeping them. Just don't pick em up with your bare fingers :)

["Umm, fish?"]

A worm larva on hair algae:

http://65.102.221.68/img_1745_web.jpg

All animal populations are limited by available food. If you don't like the worms then add some animals that can compete with the worms for food, like nassarius snails.

(But I agree with Chuck. Those worms are doing you a huge service binding up extra nutrients into their bodies.)

[JamesBryan]

Super picture!

["Umm, fish?"]

Honestly, it's proof that my microscope needs a very thorough cleaning. :) But thanks!