Fire Worm?!!!!!

[Brady4000]

Hey all,

Is this a fireworm? And if it is, is it really that bad?

It’s been in my tank for months, I am sure there is more, but this morning it decided to go outside its rock where I can get a good look at it. My goodness it was taking laps around the whole tank!

 

[JosephM]

Sure does look like a fireworm. Not nearly as bad as a bobbit worm but can munch on some softies if they get hungry enough.

 

[Brady4000]

Is this

no real way to get rid of them eh? Not taking down the tank for it that’s for sure.

 

[JosephM]

Is this

no real way to get rid of them eh? Not taking down the tank for it that’s for sure.

There’s a type of bottle trap you can whip up to catch them. I’ve never tried it but I’m sure if you looked up ‘bristle worm trap’ you could find some ideas

 

[ca1ore]

Meh, looks like a 'regular' bristle to me. Never been able to reliably tell the difference, and I think novice reefers spend way too much time getting their knickers in a twist over this stuff. In 35 years of reefing I have pulled out three things - a small octopus, a mantis shrimp and a large bobitt. That's it.

 

[JosephM]

Meh, looks like a 'regular' bristle to me. Never been able to reliably tell the difference, and I think novice reefers spend way too much time getting their knickers in a twist over this stuff.

Look at the last picture. Those deep red marking at the foot of the bristles is certainly not a bristle worm. Also how wide it is, never seen any of my bristles get that wide even when they’re not stretching for anything

 

[Brady4000]

Meh, looks like a 'regular' bristle to me. Never been able to reliably tell the difference, and I think novice reefers spend way too much time getting their knickers in a twist over this stuff. In 35 years of reefing I have pulled out three things - a small octopus, a mantis shrimp and a large bobitt. That's it.

Hello, the names brady, I am a novice reefer with my knickers in a twist. Lol

because that’s things scary bro!! It’s as big as my pen.

 

[ca1ore]

Hello, the names brady, I am a novice reefer with my knickers in a twist. Lol

because that’s things scary bro!! It’s as big as my pen.

Well there you go then ......

 

[ca1ore]

Look at the last picture. Those deep red marking at the foot of the bristles is certainly not a bristle worm. Also how wide it is, never seen any of my bristles get that wide even when they’re not stretching for anything

Double meh LOL ....

 

[Gtinnel]

Look at the last picture. Those deep red marking at the foot of the bristles is certainly not a bristle worm. Also how wide it is, never seen any of my bristles get that wide even when they’re not stretching for anything

I don't believe the red at the base of the bristles is a reliable way to determine if a bristleworm is the "dreaded" bearded firworm. The easiest way to identify the Hermodice carunculata is by the noticeable caruncle on its first few segments. I agree with @ca1ore I think it is a harmless bristleworm.

Although I've never personally had a bearded fireworm from everything I've read they're not as bad as their reputation.

EDIT: At that size I probably wouldn't put it back though.

 

[JosephM]

I don't believe the red at the base of the bristles is a reliable way to determine if a bristleworm is the "dreaded" bearded firworm. The easiest way to identify the Hermodice carunculata is by the noticeable caruncle on its first few segments. I agree with @ca1ore I think it is a harmless bristleworm.

Although I've never personally had a bearded fireworm from everything I've read they're not as bad as their reputation.

I could very well be wrong. But I do agree that they’re not as bad as they’re made out to be. I’d definitely be freaking out more about a bobbit worm or such.

 

[Gtinnel]

I could very well be wrong. But I do agree that they’re not as bad as they’re made out to be. I’d definitely be freaking out more about a bobbit worm or such.

I did a lot of reading because I have similar looking worms in my tank, and from what I understand when most people in this hobby refer to fireworm, they are talking about the bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) which does have the red gill structures. However there are other worms that have the same red gill structures but are harmless as far as I know, like the Eurythoe complanata, which get listed online as a type of fireworm but won't harm coral or fish. The easiest way to recognize the bearded fireworm is from the growths (caruncle) on their "head"

So to answer the original question I think it probably is a "fireworm" but not the supposedly "bad" fireworm.

All of this is my understanding from reading online sources, so if I have any of this wrong I'd appreciate someone correcting me.

 

[JosephM]

I did a lot of reading because I have similar looking worms in my tank, and from what I understand when most people in this hobby refer to fireworm, they are talking about the bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) which does have the red gill structures. However there are other worms that have the same red gill structures but are harmless as far as I know, like the Eurythoe complanata, which get listed online as a type of fireworm but won't harm coral or fish. The easiest way to recognize the bearded fireworm is from the growths (caruncle) on their "head"

So to answer the original question I think it probably is a "fireworm" but not the supposedly "bad" fireworm.

All of this is my understanding from reading online sources, so if I have any of this wrong I'd appreciate someone correcting me.

Makes sense, thank you for sharing your knowledge

 

[Brady4000]

Thanks all! Really appreciate all the insight!