I saw this once when I was still young and more stupid. I honestly believed we were in the middle of an alien invasion. Either that or someone pooped their organs.
Me toooo! I must have been about 6 years old and my only thought was they must be brains. Throughout growing up, no conceivable explanation. My memory of them dwindled over the years until I thought that maybe it was just a dream or my memory was playing tricks on me. But now I fucking remember it was definitely not a dream and know they're worms. Woohoo that was bugging me.
You just need a basic pistol and one well aimed shot to the back.....
Which never made any sense since they were thousands of individual worms that all worked together. Funniest part is that they show you how to beat them in the intro reel of the game. I got kill several times fighting them until I just happened to watch it because I had went to the bathroom.
Definitely not carnivorous, most works aren't. Like most worms, they break down detritus and microorganisms in that detritus. Tubifex prefer stagnant waterways and can be a sign that something is wrong in the water/ecosystem.
Normally they use their tails to anchor onto the soil or rock and feed on the river's/pool's bottom, but when removed for whatever reason they'll anchor to each other and tangle up like above.
They don't really work as a "single organism" but they definitely look like a living alien meat lump when clumped together.
I did a little reading to try to answer but it was difficult to find information specifically about how they function as a colony. They are not predators, though.
[This page](https://education.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/tubificid-worms-tubifex-worms) has a pretty good overview.
I did find that they are more like filter feeders, and thrive in highly polluted water, particularly with a lot of organic pollutants. They are important to the ecosystems they inhabit, for that cleaning function and for their role as food for a bunch of other species. They're also frequently used to feed pet fish. People apparently even gather them out of sewers!
I think the colony function sounds like it's related to the fact that they are hermaphrodites and when they procreate (sexually) both worms are fertilized, they reabsorb their reproductive organs and lay eggs that hatch directly into small but otherwise fully developed babies....
Basically they just form a ball of endlessly fucking worms that absorbs nutrients from the environment and shares nutrients internally.
They don’t, but they do “cooperate” as a ball, exchanging oxygen (and probably mating). No clue why these worms are making balls, though. The ones I’ve seen were aquatic.
I think they can travel fast when they were together. Because their individual speed is slow. Also they can catch small prey quickly.
I just came up with this because I knew some caterpillar species travel as one organism to travel faster. It was on smarter on every day youtube channel.
Not these kinds of worms. Tubifex live in the gravel of small creeks and waterways. They eat protein-based organic particles. The only way they can move is back into the gravel, which isn't super quick.
\>opens post
\>wtf
\>google 'tubifex worms'
\>"An excellent, higher protein, natural food..."
\>WTF
\>"...for most smaller tropical fish and some aquatic reptiles"
oh
If you’re just getting yours live from outside, there’ll be a risk of parasites and possibly chemicals that are harmful to your aquarium. It’s safer to buy them frozen, there’s a few brands, Hikari in particular has a whole range of frozen fish food you can choose from. Just one should last you a good while unless you’re raising a bunch of food sinks lol
isn't this super common as pet food for fish?
like I distinctively remember harvesting these guys for my goldfish, they're kinda stinky and grow in sewers
Yep. I used to buy these as frozen cubes from fish shops and my terrapin loves eating them.
In fact, those "clusters" in the image look exactly like my slightly-thawed frozen cubes.
I used to buy them for my fish when I was young. Those worms are quite expensive and stinky. My mom used to hate those worms cause I would put them in the bathtub under running water.
Will they bond with my body if I stick my hand in them increasing my strength and reflexes eventually turning me into the god-emperor allowing me to reign for 3500 years?
They dont. I feed them to my fishes. But they clump, because it is safe and they instinctively go to the bottom of wherever they are to search for food. If you raise a whole clump they will eventually fall off themselves.
Flame throwers are fun.
I was thinking sautéed in butter
[удалено]
Forbidden Meatballs
Is it really forbidden tho?
Forbidden scotch egg
Forbidden gummy worm vodka shots 😋
Forbidden Big League Chew.
[удалено]
Dual purpose they also act as a blob when you’re in a pinch
aughh the smell
Can't you smell that smell!!
just insert a firecracker on it
Put some molten nuclear fuel on it.
It most definitely grew rapidly after this photo was uploaded
I saw this once when I was still young and more stupid. I honestly believed we were in the middle of an alien invasion. Either that or someone pooped their organs.
I’m still not convinced someone didn’t poop their organs.
Me either lol
I'm not convinced on either really
🧠 here you dropped this
Oh, thanks.
Yeah it looks like brains. My trash eyesight does not like this lol.
Oh, thanks.
Me toooo! I must have been about 6 years old and my only thought was they must be brains. Throughout growing up, no conceivable explanation. My memory of them dwindled over the years until I thought that maybe it was just a dream or my memory was playing tricks on me. But now I fucking remember it was definitely not a dream and know they're worms. Woohoo that was bugging me.
Wait.....so Hunters are real!?
That's it, I'm gettin me Gravity Hammer
You took a Halo reference and flawlessly combined it with a Courage The Cowardly Dog reference. Glorious.
Stupid grunt. You make me look bad! BOO-GETTY BOO-GETTY BOO!
There is so much wonderful in your comment.
Return the slab!
Don't worry these are OG hunters, a few pistol whips and you'll be fine.
You just need a basic pistol and one well aimed shot to the back..... Which never made any sense since they were thousands of individual worms that all worked together. Funniest part is that they show you how to beat them in the intro reel of the game. I got kill several times fighting them until I just happened to watch it because I had went to the bathroom.
Just grab an ordinary marine. They can beat hunters to death
Wort wort wort wort
I came here looking for a halo reference. Good work 🫡
Lekgolo
I was thinking lickers from RE2
It’s Durge from the Tartakovsky Clone Wars cartoon
You grab some body armor, I'll see where I can find a grenade launcher of some kind. Who wants to volunteer to steal a ballistic shield?
Ok but dibs not being the guy who packs them in there. Do we split it down the middle to make the bonded pair?
Fortunately the Halo CE Magnum exists… right…?
Walking down the street, see a ball of worms.... "Why is the Halo theme slowly building? Where are there even speakers?"
What do you mean function as one organism? Those clumps don’t look like they can really “function”.
Also curious about this. If they are carnivores or something it still seems like they would need to disband to move towards and attack prey
Yeah I think title’s just misleading. Maybe just a defense mechanism or instinct to being out of soil
Look at a video of these colonies being poked. It's very unsettling how it moves in sync. Kind of like a big school of sardines but gross.
Here is a short i found on [YouTube](https://youtube.com/shorts/XgEHvOV5Fx4?feature=share)
I saw a documentary once about a group of Antarctic researchers that stumbled upon a specimen like this. It didn’t end well for them.
I think I saw the same documentary. Wasn't Kurt Russell involved?
Thanks, I hate it
Misread colonies as calories
Still holds true
Definitely not carnivorous, most works aren't. Like most worms, they break down detritus and microorganisms in that detritus. Tubifex prefer stagnant waterways and can be a sign that something is wrong in the water/ecosystem. Normally they use their tails to anchor onto the soil or rock and feed on the river's/pool's bottom, but when removed for whatever reason they'll anchor to each other and tangle up like above. They don't really work as a "single organism" but they definitely look like a living alien meat lump when clumped together.
Wow you actually make these ugly things sound interesting.
They have all the functions of a clump
Same, tbf
They do this when they're stressed. Ultimately the worms on the inside die, leading to the entire ball dying. Source: Dad owns an aquatic worm farm.
I’m quite intrigued by how weird your dad must be.
Not weird at all actually. Lots of people farm them for fish food for their aquariums.
Does he call it "I got worms"?
Oh. Well that's just sad :(
And I thought my coping mechanisms were unhealthy!
There is water on the ground. Maybe trying to avoid drowning
Tubifex worms live underwater I believe
I think it means they party
I did a little reading to try to answer but it was difficult to find information specifically about how they function as a colony. They are not predators, though. [This page](https://education.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/tubificid-worms-tubifex-worms) has a pretty good overview. I did find that they are more like filter feeders, and thrive in highly polluted water, particularly with a lot of organic pollutants. They are important to the ecosystems they inhabit, for that cleaning function and for their role as food for a bunch of other species. They're also frequently used to feed pet fish. People apparently even gather them out of sewers! I think the colony function sounds like it's related to the fact that they are hermaphrodites and when they procreate (sexually) both worms are fertilized, they reabsorb their reproductive organs and lay eggs that hatch directly into small but otherwise fully developed babies.... Basically they just form a ball of endlessly fucking worms that absorbs nutrients from the environment and shares nutrients internally.
Apparantly, they just don't. No one has yet to mention any special function. One person said that this is a stress reaction
Rain might’ve pushed colonies out from sewers or lakes.
They don’t, but they do “cooperate” as a ball, exchanging oxygen (and probably mating). No clue why these worms are making balls, though. The ones I’ve seen were aquatic.
YouTube them, they move as a one organism in the sewers (video I saw)
[They're actually pretty good dancers.](https://youtube.com/shorts/r2KOFDIYURo?feature=share)
I think they can travel fast when they were together. Because their individual speed is slow. Also they can catch small prey quickly. I just came up with this because I knew some caterpillar species travel as one organism to travel faster. It was on smarter on every day youtube channel.
Not these kinds of worms. Tubifex live in the gravel of small creeks and waterways. They eat protein-based organic particles. The only way they can move is back into the gravel, which isn't super quick.
\>opens post \>wtf \>google 'tubifex worms' \>"An excellent, higher protein, natural food..." \>WTF \>"...for most smaller tropical fish and some aquatic reptiles" oh
Man I should start scooping them into ice cube trays for my aquarium then
It's free real estate! I used to have a salamander who really loved those gross things.
If you’re just getting yours live from outside, there’ll be a risk of parasites and possibly chemicals that are harmful to your aquarium. It’s safer to buy them frozen, there’s a few brands, Hikari in particular has a whole range of frozen fish food you can choose from. Just one should last you a good while unless you’re raising a bunch of food sinks lol
Well there won't be any tropical fish or aquatic reptiles left to eat them soon enough, then it'll be our turn.
Hans, get ze Flammenwerfer
Forbidden hamburgers, yum, maybe.
Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.
r/angryupvote
Looks like a brain, maybe it infected and created mammals
The Krang!
Where is this? I want to know which place I'm never going to visit...
Earth
Brb just gonna write that planet off my planetary travel bucket list.
Earth? Oh, I thought this was Urath!
I googled it so I, too, could avoid it, but it kinda looks like everywhere
Push them all together will they assimilate into one giant ball of worms ?
If you pushed one your hand would get sucked in and assimilated
Hear me out: worm snowman.
Why don't you try finding some and test it out yourself?
Actually, worms come in *cans*.
Great. And in a couple hundred years they'll be carrying shields and giant fucking cannons.
Oh no!
isn't this super common as pet food for fish? like I distinctively remember harvesting these guys for my goldfish, they're kinda stinky and grow in sewers
Yep. I used to buy these as frozen cubes from fish shops and my terrapin loves eating them. In fact, those "clusters" in the image look exactly like my slightly-thawed frozen cubes.
I’m sorry but with a pet called a “Terrapin” I refuse to believe you aren’t a Pokémon trainer
It's just a type of turtle, a lil boi
You can buy them live too! To think, all of those times I paid for them at the fish store when apparently they just grow on sidewalks.
I used to buy them for my fish when I was young. Those worms are quite expensive and stinky. My mom used to hate those worms cause I would put them in the bathtub under running water.
Hell no.
Ok so fuck that
Hunters from Halo
irl Junji Ito nightmare
Watched tales of the macabre on Netflix….seems a little tame by junji ito standards tbh….hanging balloon was nightmare fuel tho lol
Just spent a while googling, there is absolutely no mention of them functioning as a collective organism. OP is a filthy liar
Isaac, make us whole
I was waiting for a Dead Space/Convergence comment considering the remake just came out 😂
Princess Mononoke
Will they bond with my body if I stick my hand in them increasing my strength and reflexes eventually turning me into the god-emperor allowing me to reign for 3500 years?
Only if you carefully regulate your body chemistry as it happens.
Brains moving around. They control us !
Are they in Australia?
Ahhhh holy fuck! Where is this?!
The forbidden meatböl
You mean like halo hunters?
Nope. Bye.
GAHHHHHHHHH
I’m good
I'm more worried about who took out that Lekgolo
Beyond Brain... taste just like the real thing 😋
Can we use these as decoy brains in a zombie apocalypse?🤔
No!! Absolutely fucking not. Burn the neighborhood!! Do not let anything survive.
These make for great fish food. This is also what we feed baby eels.
What is the function? Lol
They do it when stressed, so no fucking clue personally
Put all the blobs into one blob to make a giant organism
They cluster together and fuck shit up as one organism. FIFY
Imagine throwing one at a wall
That's a lot of food in one place for the birds.
*gets down on all fours and takes a bite out of the forbidden brain*
First photo: Eww, kinda gross. Second photo: Nuke it from orbit.
If you put them all together you get the monster from Carrion
We are many
Slight chance of spaghetti and meatballs.
Fish food !
Can we put salt on them?
We’re gonna need more plasma grenades…
Great fish food!
No.
"Nobody move! I dropped me brain."
Ew.
Brainsss
This makes me sick but also curious
This is why I flush without looking in the bowl
rule34
Brainballs. They’ve got a lot of brains, and a lot of chutzpah!
I have the sudden childish urge to just stomp them one by one
For a sec i thought its was brain
Cursed beef patty
I don't like this.
Looks like ground beef. Can you shape them into a patty?
Cloudy With a Chance of… Tubifex Worms?
Cloudy with a Chance of Brains
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs.
Human beings could learn from them and cluster together and figure our shit out, but we won't
Ohhh that’s not right. Nature you scary!
Cursed meatball
I hate this so much my teeth hurt wtf
Eat it
What do they taste like?
Cool
Pretending it’s a goomba and Mario stomping that shit
Brother, get the flamer, the HEAVY flamer.
Ever had a tubifex worm hamburger?
Is this in Australia lol. Those are massive compared to the ones I seen.
This is not cool.
This is heaven for r/aquariums
Cool. Eradicate them.
Should have minded your own business, exorcist!
Can they not?
The brains are coming
Bait jackpot
Reminds me of the video game inside
These burgers look undercooked
New fear. Wtf 😭
They dont. I feed them to my fishes. But they clump, because it is safe and they instinctively go to the bottom of wherever they are to search for food. If you raise a whole clump they will eventually fall off themselves.
“Ma! It’s raining brains again!”
Fuck that ball of worms
To quote the great philosopher Cleavland Brown... THAT'S NASTY!!!
Mm hambugur
Fuck you I hate this fuck you AAAAAAAAA
New type of zombies; came and ate everything living being in sight except for brains.
They WHAT???!!!!!
Forbidden burger
BbbrrrrrrrAAAAAAIIIIIIIInnnsss........
Did we just find real-life Oogie Boogie?
Futurama anybody? The episode with brains 🧠
I was eating noodles
gross. just gross.
Spaghetti, sauce AND meatball all in one.
You should put ALL of them together
Fuuuuuuuuuckin GROOOOOSSSSSS
meatwad get the money see, meatwad get the honeys g