Um, ID please - disgusting worm-looking thing

qfrisco · 11/29/2008, 08:20 PM

Is it a bristle worm? Noticed this while taking photos of various things around my tank. I got it to come out a bit more by feeding. It is at least 4" long. Gross!

Is this thing going to keep growing? Do I need to get it out? This is probably the closest I've over gotten to quitting the hobby. :-/

rssjsb · 11/29/2008, 08:22 PM

Just a bristleworm. Harmless (and beneficial) detritus feeder. Don't worry - nearly everyone freaks out the first time one of these guys shows itself. I can't believe you've never seen one before. This isn't a new tank, right?

Anyway, just don't touch it with your bare hands unless you want a finger full of bristles.

Slakker · 11/29/2008, 08:25 PM

I've never seen one in my tanks before either, and my nano has been set up for well over a year (and torn down and moved several times...my hands have been all over every inch of that tank.)

snorvich · 11/29/2008, 09:33 PM

Agree with rssjsb.

spleify · 11/29/2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rssjsb
Just a bristleworm. Harmless (and beneficial) detritus feeder. Don't worry - nearly everyone freaks out the first time one of these guys shows itself. I can't believe you've never seen one before. This isn't a new tank, right?

Anyway, just don't touch it with your bare hands unless you want a finger full of bristles.

+1

qfrisco · 11/29/2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rssjsb
Just a bristleworm. Harmless (and beneficial) detritus feeder. Don't worry - nearly everyone freaks out the first time one of these guys shows itself. I can't believe you've never seen one before. This isn't a new tank, right?

Anyway, just don't touch it with your bare hands unless you want a finger full of bristles.

Thanks! Makes me feel a lot better. Yes, my tank isn't new - about a week short of it's one year mark. Do I need to make sure these don't multiply too quickly? I don't have any livestock that feeds on these guys.

divewsharks · 11/30/2008, 12:32 AM

you really don't have to worry about them, they normally will only reproduce to what the tank can support. you probably won't see them very often, but they are there doing their job/they are a beneficial member of your CUC. if you start to feel overrun by them, arrow crabs eat then, as does my CBS (coral-banded shrimp), some fish also eat them when they are small.

froggy4112 · 11/30/2008, 01:04 AM

its a bristle worm. good to have. reef-safe. they eat leftover food that falls on the rocks... my banded coral shrimp keep their population down.

11/29/2008, 08:20 PM	#1
qfrisco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Area Posts: 1,389	Um, ID please - disgusting worm-looking thing Is it a bristle worm? Noticed this while taking photos of various things around my tank. I got it to come out a bit more by feeding. It is at least 4" long. Gross! Is this thing going to keep growing? Do I need to get it out? This is probably the closest I've over gotten to quitting the hobby. :-/

11/29/2008, 08:22 PM	#2
rssjsb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,243	Just a bristleworm. Harmless (and beneficial) detritus feeder. Don't worry - nearly everyone freaks out the first time one of these guys shows itself. I can't believe you've never seen one before. This isn't a new tank, right? Anyway, just don't touch it with your bare hands unless you want a finger full of bristles. __________________ Robin

11/29/2008, 08:25 PM	#3
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	I've never seen one in my tanks before either, and my nano has been set up for well over a year (and torn down and moved several times...my hands have been all over every inch of that tank.) __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

11/29/2008, 09:33 PM	#4
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Agree with rssjsb. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

11/30/2008, 12:32 AM	#7
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	you really don't have to worry about them, they normally will only reproduce to what the tank can support. you probably won't see them very often, but they are there doing their job/they are a beneficial member of your CUC. if you start to feel overrun by them, arrow crabs eat then, as does my CBS (coral-banded shrimp), some fish also eat them when they are small.

11/30/2008, 01:04 AM	#8
froggy4112 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 131	its a bristle worm. good to have. reef-safe. they eat leftover food that falls on the rocks... my banded coral shrimp keep their population down.