I’ve got worms

[Jguido1987]

Can someone help me ID this. I have never seen a worm like this out and about. I have seen Worms in my filter and was told they are ok. Just never seen one like this. It grabbed a piece of fish food pellet and ate it. Can’t tell if there are two or just both ends of the worm. Sorry about the cellphone quality. Any help would be appreciated

 

[ihavecrabs]

A good part of a clean up crew. Bristle worm.

Avoid touching them though

 

[Jguido1987]

Ok that’s what I thought. It looks so much different in the water then when I’m cleaning out filters. I get worried Bc I know there are “bad” worms but I have never really seen side by side pictures of them all.

 

[Jguido1987]

Thank you

 

[Coralreefer1]

There are bristleworms and then there are fireworms. Both belong to the class of marine worms known as polychaete worms. Bristleworms, unless you have a large population of them are beneficial to reef aquariums. They can escalate out of control if you over feed.
Fireworms on the other hand are carnivores with strong jaws that wreck havoc on reef tanks and possess toxic bristles that offer a potent sting. They also multiply prolifically. Care must be used in differentiating between the two and not touching the toxic form of the two.

 

[Jguido1987]

So can they easily be differentiated from each other?

 

[Jguido1987]

The more I read it makes sense that I am seeing them out now. I recently “lost” my purple dottyback. I have no idea where it went, it just vanished. A half blessing. He was a pure terrorist. Apparently they feed on the worms. If the population gets out of control I’m sure I can find a more tank frendly preditor.

 

[kirstyflash]

Had a giggle at the title. Glad it’s just bristle worms you’ve got

 

[Jguido1987]

Had a giggle at the title. Glad it’s just bristle worms you’ve got

Glad someone got the reference for the title

 

[Coralreefer1]

Fireworms look like a house centipede and often red coloration to them. Tend to be larger than the standard reef safe bristleworms. Best advice is to not try and handle either species and use tweezers or other device(Trap) to remove them. This way you don’t risk thinking you have the good kind and touch a fireworm instead.