Lucky find on this guy? Flat worm? Bad or worse?

[HAWK44]

I was cleaning the mechanical filtration on my system today and found this guy. How bad is it and can they be removed?

 

[ScottB]

Just a bristle worm. It is fine. Just don't touch it firmly as it is like a thistle plant.

 

[HAWK44]

Thanks!

 

[Tired]

Bristleworm. Good guy, useful detritivore/scavenger. Some people don't like the look of them or the bristles, and sometimes they get blamed for killing corals due to eating a dying or dead coral. To me, they're just a good reminder not to put my bare hands in the tank- the rock can have sharp edges and really nasty bacteria. You shouldn't be in any position to get stung by a bristleworm.