Bristleworm? Shall I put him in refugium

[GreasyReefer]

Can someone confirm this is a bristleworm and should I put him in my sump? Thanks

 

[LegendaryCG]

if you got a wrasse he might like a snack. I don’t really like them in my fuge coz I might touch it accidentally.. im sure I have some but I don’t purposely place them in it.

 

[Midrats]

Why put it in the sump? They are excellent CUC members.

 

[GreasyReefer]

Was thinking just to clean up any leftovers down there. Is he definitely a safe one shall I put him in the main tank then? I’ve read a lot and happy to have them but still new so like to get a second opinion

 

[king aiptasia]

Get me a closer shot of his head with white lighting. if he is questionable I'd say the sump is a wonderful place for him

 

[GreasyReefer]

Get me a closer shot of his head with white lighting. if he is questionable I'd say the sump is a wonderful place for him

I’ve already put him in now it’s a new tank without corals but will keep an eye out and catch him if he causes any problems

 

[Midrats]

I don't understand the fear of bristleworms, they are the good guys.

 

[GreasyReefer]

I don't understand the fear of bristleworms, they are the good guys.

Most of the things I know I’ve learnt from reading things on this forum, I’m happy with the bristleworm just wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything else like a fireworm

 

[king aiptasia]

Most of the things I know I’ve learnt from reading things on this forum, I’m happy with the bristleworm just wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything else like a fireworm

bristle vs fireworm is kinda a fools errand to distinguish because the names get interchanged so often. to make things simple and based in scientifically documentable facts...

The bearded fireworm Hermodice carunculata is one that sometimes eats SPS corals, it is not safe around some types of starfish and urchins, but the rest the time it is beneficial and makes a pretty voracious member of a CUC.

the most abundant "bristleworms" reported are from the species in the genus Eurythoe, they are harmless scavengers but they too can be nicknamed "fireworms" for having similar spines on the body.

Most people have a very hard time distinguishing various species within the Amphinomidae (the classification that covers all these spiny worms), and rightfully so, theres a big deficit in information on them. So when one species does a bad thing all them are liable to punishment from it due to inexperience of the aquarists in this matter.

in the sump theres no reason to worry about any of these species since they are away from all the urchins and corals, and as long as enough particles land there theres no concern of them starving either

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

That is a fireworm. 100%. Not sure of the particular type but bristle worms aren’t tjat wide in the body and the red markings around the double clumped bristles indicate fireworm all the way. Id flush that beast.

 

[GreasyReefer]

That is a fireworm. 100%. Not sure of the particular type but bristle worms aren’t tjat wide in the body and the red markings around the double clumped bristles indicate fireworm all the way. Id flush that beast.

He’s already in my tank I’ll try making a trap to catch him and get a better look just to be safe then.

 

[king aiptasia]

if you do catch him don't kill him

 

[GreasyReefer]

if you do catch him don't kill him

I’m confused what to do now. What is the reason they are bad is it because they sting or will they cause havoc for my corals and fish

edit just realised you mentioned earlier. It’s 6am here not with it haha

 

[GreasyReefer]

He looked like this if that helps was hard to take a photo as I’m new to this

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

He looked like this if that helps was hard to take a photo as I’m new to this

Yeah that’s a fireworm. They eat some corals, plus the larger bristle worms become unsightly anyway.

 

[GreasyReefer]

Yeah that’s a fireworm. They eat some corals, plus the larger bristle worms become unsightly anyway.

It’s hard work because google said this was a bristleworm haha I will keep an eye on him anyway and if I see he’s causing a problem then I’ll look into catching it

 

[king aiptasia]

He looked like this if that helps was hard to take a photo as I’m new to this

if this is the photo you took, yes the animal in this photo is a bearded fireworm. the animal is viewed as unsightly by many people so it gets a huge amount of stigma.

in a sump there is absolutely no risk with having this animal it will eat any food particles floating to it. The hairs on the animal can make a sting, but don't let that scare you, just be mindful not to touch the animal, all the common "bristleworms" have these spines "good" and "bad" ones (some garden caterpillars can also sting). The stings are not a hazard for the fish. Some have the potential to eat a couple species of SPS corals (this is rarely recorded in captivity, usually corals being eaten were sick and dying) , but in a sump that is a non issue. It is not compatible with some sea urchins and starfish, again not an issue for a sump.

when time to catch it if you want to move it, use tweezers or gloves. me personally I use a spoon and get them in my palm carefully, but i don't recommend picking any spiny polychaetes up bare handed

 

[GreasyReefer]

if this is the photo you took, yes the animal in this photo is a bearded fireworm. the animal is viewed as unsightly by many people so it gets a huge amount of stigma.

in a sump there is absolutely no risk with having this animal it will eat any food particles floating to it. The hairs on the animal can make a sting, but don't let that scare you, just be mindful not to touch the animal, all the common "bristleworms" have these spines "good" and "bad" ones (some garden caterpillars can also sting). The stings are not a hazard for the fish. Some have the potential to eat a couple species of SPS corals (this is rarely recorded in captivity, usually corals being eaten were sick and dying) , but in a sump that is a non issue. It is not compatible with some sea urchins and starfish, again not an issue for a sump.

when time to catch it if you want to move it, use tweezers or gloves. me personally I use a spoon and get them in my palm carefully, but i don't recommend picking any spiny polychaetes up bare handed

Happy with that cheers, if he starts been a problem he will go in the sump