The dreaded fireworm?

[jsav00]

After being visibly pest free the past year I believe I’ve just spotted a fireworm.

Can anyone brighten the night and say it’s a bristleworm?!

If it is a fireworm, I plan on swapping out my scape to all new dry Marco rock - didn’t want to change the sand though. Any suggestions?

 

[Rugops]

Fireworms are out during the day. Bristleworms at night.
Its a fireworm. Honestly, I would leave it in the tank. Free cleanup.

 

[jsav00]

Fireworms are out during the day. Bristleworms at night.

That’s strange - this was out at night.

I’ve read a lot of conflicting information about them; some say they eat coral, starfish and urchins, others like yourself say it’s good CUC

 

[Lavey29]

Fireworms are out during the day. Bristleworms at night.
Its a fireworm. Honestly, I would leave it in the tank. Free cleanup.

I see it this way also. Everything has its role in the tank environment and diversity creates a successful biome

 

[fishface NJ]

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

You don't want to get "stung" by either common bristleworms or fireworms. Beyond that, there is little difference between the two that really matters to a hobbyist. There are one or 2 species of fireworm that do eat coral, but they are not common in the hobby. Leave him in the tank.

Fwiw, what you posted does not look like a fireworm to me.

 

[zoomonster]

I've got some and they don't cause any problems and scavenge. Well, I did get a fairly mild sting once or twice. Usually when moving stuff around and they like to be under rocks most of the time. Numbers seem to be dwindling though and my Melanurus is looking exceptionally fat. Think my sixline has been chowing on the babies too when not gobbling pods.

 

[jsav00]

Numbers seem to be dwindling though and my Melanurus is looking exceptionally fat. Think my sixline has been chowing on the babies too when not gobbling pods.

I did read the Melanurus wrasse eat them.

I’ve got a peacock wrasse and 2x red fairy dwarf parrot wrasse which I thought were doing a decent job for pest control…

I don’t suppose a melanurus would be suitable alongside my current wrasse?

 

[zoomonster]

I did read the Melanurus wrasse eat them.

I’ve got a peacock wrasse and 2x red fairy dwarf parrot wrasse which I thought were doing a decent job for pest control…

I don’t suppose a melanurus would be suitable alongside my current wrasse?

Honestly don't know about those wrasses but I have always kept a variety of wrasses and never had an issue with a melanurus which I have always had. Well, melanurus bury in the sand and often knock stuff around on the sand bed. Sixline has a bad reputation, but I have always kept them too without issue. My current sixline I have had for 9 years and on second melanurus in 9 years.