A Bristleworm???

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qhrisnd

Aquarium Advice Regular
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
55
Location
Ventura CA
I have no idea what this thing is ... but it randomly showed up today on our sand bed (tank is 4 1/2 months old).

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http://www.qhris.com/Worms/worm1_big.jpg

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http://www.qhris.com/Worms/worm2_big.jpg[/center:8a7a745586]

Anyone have any idea?
 
I would take it out. They can cause alot of damage in a reef tank. They bare toxic bristles on their bodies that can inflict a sting of a very painful degree, posses strong jaws for feeding, and can reproduce quite rapidly.

They are not selective about what they eat, but usually prey on all types of other motile (moving) and sessile (attached or stationary) invertebrates, such as corals, crustaceans, mollusks, sedentary type as well as other errant type bristleworms. They may even eat small fish. If you can catch it with tweezers, great !! Otherwise read this article about removal...
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/msubpestbworm/a/aa102198_2.html
 
Aren't there good and bad bristleworms? I've read on these forums that some species are okay ... however fireworms aren't.
 
Personally, I am anti-bristleworm, especially in smaller tanks and reefs.....I would trap/catch it and dispose of it....and any others you may find.
 
I'll play devil's advocate then and say, live and let live. They actually are beneficial to your system as they are scavengers and help with clean up. You may get a rouge worm from time to time but that's the only time I'd remove them. Innocent til proven guilty. Most of the worms you find are harmless if not beneficial, very few are a problem.
 
Looks like a bristleworm to me. Redish in color maybe? Most likely a hitchhiker on some rocks you purchased.

I suck up a couple little ones in my tank every PWC. I've a shell based substrate they just love to hide in. Recently I found one running around the LR as well in daylight (Not common).

NOTE: Be very carefull handling. Kinda like touching fiber glass. Use tongs or a net. Tongs usually cut it in half though. I've better luck just sucking them up during a PWC myself.

HTH
 
I think I have one - but looks different

Now I'm nervous about the one I found in my tank a while ago and decided to let it be.
Can anyone ID this?
Thx!
 
That is the typical bristleworm but there are other varieties. I wouldn't be concerned.
 
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