A Bristleworm???

[qhrisnd]

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


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

Anyone have any idea?

[Toirtis]

Sure looks like a bristleworm to me.

[emorrison33]

I would definitely agree with Toirtis.

[qhrisnd]

Am I okay to leave this little guy in the tank?

[emorrison33]

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/msu...a102198_2.html

[qhrisnd]

Aren't there good and bad bristleworms? I've read on these forums that some species are okay ... however fireworms aren't.

[emorrison33]

Yes there are good and bad....but either way they don't offer much to the reef aquarium IMO.

[emorrison33]

Although in small numbers they can help reduce organic matter

[Toirtis]

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.

[Fluff]

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.

[dscount]

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

[GinaD]

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!

[Fluff]

That is the typical bristleworm but there are other varieties. I wouldn't be concerned.