hermodice carunculata aka "Bearded Fireworm"

[TDEcoral]

I've found several of these in my Florida live rock from KP Aquatics. Are there any verified reports of them feeding on healthy coral other than gorgonians? I'm wondering if I need to go scorched earth on these things, or if I'm fine as long as I don't add any gorgs to the tank. Sounds like a coral banded shrimp or arrow crab would be my best bet for natural control of them?

 

[shred5]

You sure they are and not just normal bristle worms? There are lots of different bristle worms that look similar too..

They are not very common in the hobby but are possible.

 

[Doctorgori]

I've found several of these in my Florida live rock from KP Aquatics. Are there any verified reports of them feeding on healthy coral other than gorgonians? I'm wondering if I need to go scorched earth on these things, or if I'm fine as long as I don't add any gorgs to the tank. Sounds like a coral banded shrimp or arrow crab would be my best bet for natural control of them?

TBH I hardly tolerate the run-o-mill bristle worm and those are supposedly good. Anything higher on the list, I’d go nuclear, but thats just me. I won’t argue other opinions

 

[TDEcoral]

You sure they are and not just normal bristle worms? There are lots of different bristle worms that look similar too..

They are not very common in the hobby but are possible.

I'm quite sure.

 

[shred5]

Yea it looks pretty close and certainly are in the Caribbean.
I am not sure what I would do. You certainly can not have them in there.

 

[IKD]

i had the same guy in my KP rock. I don’t think it’s a fireworm though. I had help from @vetteguy53081 who can weigh in also

that said, i took him out because I wasn‘t sure he’s reef safe anyway.

here is my thread on it

Bobbit and other Worms

Hi All, Need help with identification and confirmation of the worms below. I knew I had fireworm in my live rock and had no luck catching him after three high salinity (50ppm) dips and even squirting hyrdogen peroxide into the rock. I decided since this will be refugium rock anyway, I may as...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Anihiel1]

I've found several of these in my Florida live rock from KP Aquatics. Are there any verified reports of them feeding on healthy coral other than gorgonians? I'm wondering if I need to go scorched earth on these things, or if I'm fine as long as I don't add any gorgs to the tank. Sounds like a coral banded shrimp or arrow crab would be my best bet for natural control of them?

Same worms from the same place, and i do have gorgonians. 3 or 4 very large worms, they were in there a year before i accidentally found them. Honestly they haven't bothered anything in my tank, they do run around at night looking for food, but they've been right next to other tank mates with no issues. Once i did catch one of the smaller ones munching on the bottom of a purple feather, but only as high as he could stretch (not very far) and it didn't bother the coral (higher/polyps) at all. Extra CUC i guess

 

[Doctorgori]

I’m not expert, but that look very Firewormish to me. Regardless, it definitely can’t harm anything if its dead
Edit add: That thing would look great as a paper weight encased in acrylic.

 

[TDEcoral]

Same worms from the same place, and i do have gorgonians. 3 or 4 very large worms, they were in there a year before i accidentally found them. Honestly they haven't bothered anything in my tank, they do run around at night looking for food, but they've been right next to other tank mates with no issues. Once i did catch one of the smaller ones munching on the bottom of a purple feather, but only as high as he could stretch (not very far) and it didn't bother the coral (higher/polyps) at all. Extra CUC i guess

That's interesting, thanks for the info. I'll probably still try to get rid of them out of an abundance of caution.

 

[TDEcoral]

i had the same guy in my KP rock. I don’t think it’s a fireworm though. I had help from @vetteguy53081 who can weigh in also

that said, i took him out because I wasn‘t sure he’s reef safe anyway.

here is my thread on it

Bobbit and other Worms

Hi All, Need help with identification and confirmation of the worms below. I knew I had fireworm in my live rock and had no luck catching him after three high salinity (50ppm) dips and even squirting hyrdogen peroxide into the rock. I decided since this will be refugium rock anyway, I may as...

www.reef2reef.com

Yours looks more like Eurythoe complanata.

 

[IKD]

Yours looks more like Eurythoe complanata.

Video 4 is what I was comparing to. When it wasnt stretched, it looked just like yours.

 

[IKD]

@Steve Erekson also for ID help

 

[KJ]

I'm quite sure.

Eurythoe complanata.

 

[TDEcoral]

Eurythoe complanata.

Can you tell me why you think so? Does E. complanata also have a caruncle?