What is this? Should I worry?

[ahunter26]

I just saw a relatively big worm come out from my rock and grab the leftover brine shrimp and then back out to the rock… should I be worried? What is this?

 

[jeffmr4]

Bristleworm. Technically they're good for your tank but they can mass reproduce and be a pain.

 

[aliceb]

I was thinking the same, either a bristleworm or a fireworm.

 

[ahunter26]

Bristleworm. Technically they're good for your tank but they can mass reproduce and be a pain.

What do they eat? and how to get rid of it if it becomes a problem?

 

[ahunter26]

I was thinking the same, either a bristleworm or a fireworm.

Hmmm aren’t fireworms bad?

 

[JoJosReef]

Not a fireworm. Run of the mill bristleworm. Thank him and tell him to try to keep out of sight.

 

[jeffmr4]

I think they are scavengers. You can set traps for them if they become a pain. I think the inverted 16 oz. bottle top trap would probably work.

 

[jeffmr4]

Also, don't handle them with your hands. The bristles can come out in your hands and be hard to remove.

 

[ahunter26]

Not a fireworm. Run of the mill bristleworm. Thank him and tell him to try to keep out of sight.

Hahahaha sounds good

 

[ahunter26]

Also, don't handle them with your hands. The bristles can come out in your hands and be hard to remove.

Good to know thanks!

 

[JoJosReef]

Hahahaha sounds good

Nighttime is the freak show in a reef tank. Get a red flashlight and you can watch everything undisturbed.

But yes, when having your hands in the tank doing things like hangdling rocks, wear gloves.

 

[ahunter26]

Nighttime is the freak show in a reef tank. Get a red flashlight and you can watch everything undisturbed.

But yes, when having your hands in the tank doing things like hangdling rocks, wear gloves.

Holy moly that looks crazy!!! But you sure they good guys right!? :b

 

[JoJosReef]

Holy moly that looks crazy!!! But you sure they good guys right!? :b

I am. Some people don't like them. They are ugly. But they keep things clean. They also smell death like nothing else. I put some dead berghia in the tank hoping they would "revive". They didn't. The bristleworms could smell them from across the tank (as could the marginella and nassarius snail). They do a good job.

 

[ahunter26]

I am. Some people don't like them. They are ugly. But they keep things clean. They also smell death like nothing else. I put some dead berghia in the tank hoping they would "revive". They didn't. The bristleworms could smell them from across the tank (as could the marginella and nassarius snail). They do a good job.

Thanks that was a lot of help! I was freaking out a little

 

[JoJosReef]

Thanks that was a lot of help! I was freaking out a little

Come on back when you run into a Eunice worm

 

[Solo McReefer]

What do they eat? and how to get rid of it if it becomes a problem?

Left over food like shrimp on the bottom of your tank

 

[ahunter26]

Come on back when you run into a Eunice worm

please don’t put that out in the world that’s some scary critters

 

[JoJosReef]

please don’t put that out in the world that’s some scary critters

Seriously misunderstood creatures.

But yes, quite scary. I've had one actually attack my tongs once when I nabbed it. Reared back like a cobra and struck the tongs repeatedly, mandibles out. I dropped the tongs and it escaped into its rock. That rock is now in a landfill somewhere.

 

[KrisReef]

Seriously misunderstood creatures.

But yes, quite scary. I've had one actually attack my tongs once when I nabbed it. Reared back like a cobra and struck the tongs repeatedly, mandibles out. I dropped the tongs and it escaped into its rock. That rock is now in a landfill somewhere.

You sure?