Need help identifying this bristle

[Jminear]

Please take a look at this guy. About 6inches in length. Found him crawling around in mixed reef at night. I have other basic bristle worms but this guy is a darker red and much bigger. Is it beneficial as part of my clean up crew? Is it a problem?

thanks in advance.

 

[fishguy242]

fire worm get while you can hurry,lol

 

[Topekoms]

Got a better pic? Like of its head?

 

[living_tribunal]

fire worm get while you can hurry,lol

How can you tell it's a fire worm with the lights off? (Actually asking)

 

[DMG Reef]

I have many of those worms in my reef. They don't bother my clam, corals, hermits. It's part of my CUC. Harmless.

 

[living_tribunal]

Please take a look at this guy. About 6inches in length. Found him crawling around in mixed reef at night. I have other basic bristle worms but this guy is a darker red and much bigger. Is it beneficial as part of my clean up crew? Is it a problem?

thanks in advance.

Have you seen him during the day?

 

[fishguy242]

How can you tell it's a fire worm with the lights off? (Actually asking)

red edges

 

[Jminear]

Got a better pic? Like of its head?

I will try to get one tomorrow night.

 

[Jminear]

Have you seen him during the day?

No. Only at night with my cell phone light.

 

[DMG Reef]

red edges

Real fire worms are carnivorous. These marine worms only eat detritus. They don't even eat pods. My tank is overrun with pods. As I said, they don't bother anything.

 

[living_tribunal]

red edges

I know that fireworms are much longer and much wider but you typically see them also have those red tufts with the bristle layout being more compact.

My bristles have red edges. I know most people identify them by spotting them in the day since they fluoresce kind of crazy.

 

[Jminear]

Got a better pic? Like of its head?

I will try tomorrow night for a headshot.

 

[fishguy242]

at that size he is going to eat snails if i am correct on worm jmo

 

[living_tribunal]

I'm going to go out on a limb and agree with @Kattkrazie . This just looks like a really large bristle. Fireworms are pretty distinctive with the bands and the beard.

If you do see it during the day then pull it asap.

 

[fishguy242]

sorry if incorrect,old school when in doubt take it out ,i have donated 1000's of snails to worms over the years,thus the quick reaction take out

 

[living_tribunal]

sorry if incorrect,old school when in doubt take it out ,i have donated 1000's of snails to worms over the years,thus the quick reaction take out

I love my worms man! They do get pretty big but they clean the sand bed every night.

 

[fishguy242]

i do keep in my horse set up ,but run all my tanks bare bottom

 

[DMG Reef]

at that size he is going to eat snails if i am correct on worm jmo

I just grabbed a pic of one of mine. They are orange, not red. I've had them in my reef for 6 years. No fatalities. Harmless. @living_tribunal showed what a fire worm looks like. These aren't those.

 

[living_tribunal]

I just grabbed a pic of one of mine. They are orange, not red. I've had them in my reef for 6 years. No fatalities. Harmless. @living_tribunal showed what a fire worm looks like. These aren't those.

Fireworms are also incredibly rare. It's not impossible to get them in your tank but a very very slim chance.

 

[fishguy242]

we can learn something new every day thank you guys that is why we are here