What is this?! Worm?!

hurley009 · 12/27/2015, 01:22 PM

So I caught this today... what is this??
Keep or discard?

TangingOut · 12/27/2015, 01:27 PM

Common bristle worm. Very good detrivore and CUC member.

Sugar Magnolia · 12/27/2015, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TangingOut

Common bristle worm. Very good detrivore and CUC member.

Yes, highly beneficial.

chimmike · 12/27/2015, 01:40 PM

discard. When they get that big they and they're hungry they can possibly take out fish.

dragonsong · 12/27/2015, 02:06 PM

The big ones freak me out so I remove them, the little ones are good at cleaning up detritus though.

Sk8r · 12/27/2015, 02:40 PM

Put him back in. They have only a soda-straw of a mouth and no jaws. They slurp up decaying gunk and clean inside rock crevices other things can't reach. I'm trying to get more of these guys this week---all mine died off in the cold during a power-out.

hurley009 · 12/27/2015, 03:46 PM

My concern is that it's eaten a few of my zoos. I noticed this guy come out once and luckily he was out today and I caught him. I've noticed a considerable amount of coral damage since seeing this guy. Possibility?

CThomas1026 · 12/28/2015, 05:57 PM

I would discard personally. Especially if you saw it munching on zoos.

pyithar · 12/28/2015, 09:00 PM

i don't think bristle worms will eat healthy corals. maybe the coral is already damaged by other things? just my .02.

Sk8r · 12/28/2015, 09:31 PM

They can't. If they are slurping stuff off a coral, they're actually helping it by removing bad stuff. I've had them actually save a fragile coral that had gotten injured.

TangingOut · 12/28/2015, 09:45 PM

I wish I had more bristle worms.

nemodude · 12/29/2015, 04:52 AM

I wouldn't touch it with your fingers either. those bristles come off in your skin almost like fiberglass and release a mild but very annoying venom into your skin

shyerdj · 12/29/2015, 07:15 PM

bristle worm! thats a keeper!

hurley009 · 12/30/2015, 08:26 AM

Thank you everyone for your feed back everyone. I found another the same size so I guess that's a good thing lol

12/27/2015, 01:22 PM	#1
hurley009 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 53	What is this?! Worm?! So I caught this today... what is this?? Keep or discard?

12/27/2015, 01:40 PM	#4
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	discard. When they get that big they and they're hungry they can possibly take out fish. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

12/27/2015, 02:40 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Put him back in. They have only a soda-straw of a mouth and no jaws. They slurp up decaying gunk and clean inside rock crevices other things can't reach. I'm trying to get more of these guys this week---all mine died off in the cold during a power-out. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/28/2015, 09:00 PM	#9
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	i don't think bristle worms will eat healthy corals. maybe the coral is already damaged by other things? just my .02. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

12/28/2015, 09:31 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	They can't. If they are slurping stuff off a coral, they're actually helping it by removing bad stuff. I've had them actually save a fragile coral that had gotten injured. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/27/2015, 01:27 PM	#2
TangingOut Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,511	Common bristle worm. Very good detrivore and CUC member.

12/27/2015, 02:06 PM	#5
dragonsong Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 73	The big ones freak me out so I remove them, the little ones are good at cleaning up detritus though.

12/27/2015, 03:46 PM	#7
hurley009 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 53	My concern is that it's eaten a few of my zoos. I noticed this guy come out once and luckily he was out today and I caught him. I've noticed a considerable amount of coral damage since seeing this guy. Possibility?

12/28/2015, 05:57 PM	#8
CThomas1026 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 26	I would discard personally. Especially if you saw it munching on zoos.

12/28/2015, 09:45 PM	#11
TangingOut Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,511	I wish I had more bristle worms.

12/29/2015, 04:52 AM	#12
nemodude Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pottstown PA Posts: 83	I wouldn't touch it with your fingers either. those bristles come off in your skin almost like fiberglass and release a mild but very annoying venom into your skin __________________ I don't smoke the reefer. I am a reefer. Current Tank Info: 15 gallon FOWLR

12/29/2015, 07:15 PM	#13
shyerdj Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 70	bristle worm! thats a keeper!

12/30/2015, 08:26 AM	#14
hurley009 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 53	Thank you everyone for your feed back everyone. I found another the same size so I guess that's a good thing lol