Bearded fireworm!!! (with pics)

[lando]

So I have been after this huge bearded fire worm ever since I saw him a couple of weeks ago. today I found him going after my anemone so I snatched him up with some tongs. It is about 10in. long and absolutly beautiful. I would not want to grab onto this in the tank though. One more reason to wear gloves! I have no idea what to do with it. I hate to flush it since it is so beautiful, but I really do not have any options. Sump maybe? Anyways...here are some pics of this monster. I wonder if it was the cause of my rose BTA problems of the last few days. Hmm...

 

[BillyZ]

are these really an agressor towards anenomes? I thought they were scavengers?

anyway... the sump sounds like a great place for one of these.

 

[Phyl]

I had one like that with green fuzz where yours has orange. Eating a mushroom. I was going to put it into my sump but it was in my QT when my new fish (that had ICH) went into so I decided that they weren't going into the sump either. Since I had to drop the salinity in the QT the refugees ended up in a bucket but I the bucket ended up getting cold one day and they didn't survive. Long story short (hahah too late) I was going to put them into my fuge. I was sorry to lose mine too because it was so beautiful. I spent many hours taking pictures of just him when he roamed my tank.

After seeing what he did to my shroom I wouldn't be surprised that one of those could have gotten hold of your BTA. My shroom still has a scar though it has mostly healed over. Hope your BTA recovers as well.

 

[lando]

are these really an agressor towards anenomes? I thought they were scavengers?

I don't know. I know they are bad news for corals. I would consider them more opportunistic/predators then scavengers.

 

[Fluff]

Oh wow, he's purty. Gives me the shivers. lol Good catch lando!

 

[steve-s]

are these really an agressor towards anenomes? I thought they were scavengers?

100% predaceous, if it's edible the worm will get to it eventually. 8O

Cheers
Steve