Ye Olde Question.... Fireworm or Bristleworm?

[FishyFamily]

I've looked at so many worm pics, I just can't tell....

 

[cmor1701d]

Bristle worm

 

[Fluff]

I agree, common bristleworm.

 

[FishyFamily]

Big Ole.... WHEW! Thanks for your help! I have agonized on trying to figure this out. So, do fireworms look very similar or when you actually see one are the quite different? In other words... would I know a fireworm if I saw it?

 

[ohio reefer]

yeah. they're bright red.

 

[FishyFamily]

Wooohooo, I've got bunches of them. So happy to have the ID help. I'm addicted to this aquarium and I've been obsessed with trying to figure this out, worrying if these things were torturing my other residents - first time I was able to actually get a legible pic of the cute little things.

 

[Fluff]

Not always red. I've seen pics of yellow, green, purple and brown ones as well. They are normally a bit fatter and have twice as many bristles. They are really pretty, shame they can be destructive.

http://www.fantasyreef.com/database/index.php?p=getitem&db_id=1&item_id=43

http://www.gooddive.com/diving-phot...73&PHPSESSID=021d44158f304958974187796887e452

http://troyb.com/photo/gallery/00000356.htm

http://www.kilili.com/kilili/Specie...___Hermodice_carunculata/slides/R0061F55.html

http://www.dragonflygallery.ca/gall...s/John_Toles_SeaCreatures.html?=FireWorm.html

 

[FishyFamily]

That really puts it into perspective... that IS a lot of bristles! BTW, The green one is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[morgan24]

i had a yellow fireworm. I grabbed him with tweezers and he ripped in half , never saw him again.