Worm, Good or bad?

[JPloman]

We have these really brilliantly colored worms in our live rock. They look like centipedes but they are just amazing in color, bright pinks and other very bright colors. They climb in and out of the rock holes and really seem to hide a lot, but every once in a while I will see one. They have gotten larger, but they are still very small.

Any ideas if these are good or bad?

[Fluff]

It really depends on the worm. If they are brittle worms then, they are good. Fire worms and eunicidae worms are bad. Here are some links of each, see what you think.


bristleworm (halfway down page)
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/mai.../faq_rock3.htm

Eunicidae Worm
http://www.thegoldfishbowl.co.uk/atl...Worm+Eunicidae

fireworm
http://krupp.wcc.hawaii.edu/BIOL200L...s02/sld011.htm

[Fluff]

More fireworm links to show different colors....

http://www.serdy.org/images/family/R...-%20Roatan.jpg


http://www.finnyfinfin.com/galleryimages/020604.8.jpg


http://people.kls.umn.edu/acl/photos...__SLIDE_1.html

[JPloman]

Fluff, it doesnt look like any of those. Next time I see it, I will try to take a photo. I have bad luck with tank photos, they always look red and yucky.

[Fluff]

Well, certainly a pic would help but, I wouldn't worry to much. Most worms are harmless. I've attached another link to a picture of a eunicidae worm that one of the members here have in their gallery (Brad). It's an awesome shot. Just to show another variation.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/photop...cat=500&page=1

[JPloman]

That last one looks more like them, but they are tiny and much brighter in color! Those are okay right?

[Fluff]

Well, perhaps it's something different. I've seen the eunicid worm listed as a scavanger as well as preditor. However, I think I would remove it.

[Brad]

I have yet to see any of my many Eunicid worms "prey" on anything that wasn't already dead. I've witnessed many opportunities for them to do so, also. They have fearsome looking jaws, so they seem more than capable.

...both my red headed goby and lawnmower blenny have settled literally on top of the worm's head....all he had to do was bite.

....no interested paid to hermit crabs that often get stuck right at the mouth of the worms cave. In fact, the worm seems more interested in using the hermits as cover for further extension.

...I have seen them take a tentacle or two from a nearby spaghetti worm.

.. lives permanently directly under a giant clam and has never shown any interest whatsoever in the clams flesh...2nd exit is directly under a carpet anemone...again no interest. Seems to appreciate the sheltered exit.

The largest one seems completely vegetarian. The smaller one's will take anything and they are quite to hoot to target feed!