fire worm are they reef safe?

nutto · 03/29/2006, 02:28 PM

Hello everyone yesterday I spoted 4-5 fire worm in my 12 gal nano tank .Anyone know if they are reef safe ?? I just put 4 new corals in my tank .will they be ok if the worm touch it??

TitansFan · 03/29/2006, 02:40 PM

Yes, your corals will be fine. The worms are good for the tank.

nutto · 03/29/2006, 02:45 PM

good because, I have so many of them . thank you

kingtoad · 03/29/2006, 02:53 PM

I heard fire worms were the bad ones.

Snowboarder2757 · 03/29/2006, 02:58 PM

I also heard the fire worms are the bad ones, and might possibly eat corals. The other bristle worms are fine, but not the fire ones.

TitansFan · 03/29/2006, 03:37 PM

Fireworms are beneficial. They eat detritus and other organic matter. The only time I would be worried with one is when you see it in the 6+ inch size. Other than that I have never found one to be eating on a live coral. They may munch on dead coral tissue but that would go down as being good in my book. I just wouldnt recommend petting them...

Here is some reading:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/inv...hautfirewo.htm

Amphiprion · 03/29/2006, 03:52 PM

The main "fireworm" you should concern yourself with is Hermodice carunculata. They are readily identified by the "beard" structure just above the head (caruncle). The vast majority of other fireworms, as others have said, are beneficial to say the least. They probably perform more beneficial activity for your tank than practically any other animal.

nutto · 03/29/2006, 04:09 PM

titanfan thanks for the artical. dang my is the red one .they 're predetor .now any body know how to get rid of them ??
the one I found is like skinny but long about 6 ince.I guess that not a good size ...pls I need some advice.

nutto · 03/29/2006, 08:11 PM

anyone has any idea how can I get rid of fire worm pls help??

nutto · 03/29/2006, 09:17 PM

need to get rid of them has to many . Any idea pls let me know thanks

Amphiprion · 03/29/2006, 09:26 PM

I still think you are misidentifying the worm. It is most likely a very beneficial Eurythoe species.

Here is a pic of the real fireworm. Notice the little patch of blood red "feathers" near the tip of the head? That is what you are looking for. If it and the others don't have that, then leave them be. They can only help your tank--no such thing as too many.

nutto · 03/29/2006, 09:40 PM

I just check it again .I guess u right they just have pink color and hair but has no red feather weew ... good so I can just leave them in their. thanks a lot.

Amphiprion · 03/29/2006, 09:45 PM

No problem. I just don't want to see good worms go to waste

After all, that is primarily what you are paying for when you buy live rock

BigElephant · 03/29/2006, 10:04 PM

Amphiprion,

Can't see your post. I guess you are limited by the Geocities. Can you post the picture of fireworm on this forum? I like to see one. I am new and never see one before.

Amphiprion · 03/29/2006, 10:09 PM

Sure. Here are a few pics

fireworm 1

fireworm 2

If those don't work for you, go to Google.com, then go to images and type Hermodice carunculata. IMO, they are actually quite beautiful creatures, despite their habits.

bertoni · 03/30/2006, 01:14 AM

If you have H. carunculata, they should be out and about munching on corals, etc, and you might be able to nab them with plastic tongs.

Color isn't a useful guide, since lots of fireworms are red.

03/29/2006, 02:28 PM	#1
nutto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: hoffman estates,IL Posts: 294	fire worm are they reef safe? Hello everyone yesterday I spoted 4-5 fire worm in my 12 gal nano tank .Anyone know if they are reef safe ?? I just put 4 new corals in my tank .will they be ok if the worm touch it??

03/29/2006, 02:58 PM	#5
Snowboarder2757 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 120	I also heard the fire worms are the bad ones, and might possibly eat corals. The other bristle worms are fine, but not the fire ones. __________________ Andrew 30g reef 50g planted Current Tank Info: 30g reef, 55g planted

03/29/2006, 03:52 PM	#7
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	The main "fireworm" you should concern yourself with is Hermodice carunculata. They are readily identified by the "beard" structure just above the head (caruncle). The vast majority of other fireworms, as others have said, are beneficial to say the least. They probably perform more beneficial activity for your tank than practically any other animal. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/29/2006, 09:17 PM	#10
nutto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: hoffman estates,IL Posts: 294	anyone know ho to get rid of fire worm need to get rid of them has to many . Any idea pls let me know thanks

03/29/2006, 09:26 PM	#11
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	I still think you are misidentifying the worm. It is most likely a very beneficial Eurythoe species. Here is a pic of the real fireworm. Notice the little patch of blood red "feathers" near the tip of the head? That is what you are looking for. If it and the others don't have that, then leave them be. They can only help your tank--no such thing as too many. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/29/2006, 02:40 PM	#2
TitansFan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 1,364	Yes, your corals will be fine. The worms are good for the tank.

03/29/2006, 02:45 PM	#3
nutto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: hoffman estates,IL Posts: 294	good because, I have so many of them . thank you

03/29/2006, 02:53 PM	#4
kingtoad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 399	I heard fire worms were the bad ones.

03/29/2006, 03:37 PM	#6
TitansFan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 1,364	Fireworms are beneficial. They eat detritus and other organic matter. The only time I would be worried with one is when you see it in the 6+ inch size. Other than that I have never found one to be eating on a live coral. They may munch on dead coral tissue but that would go down as being good in my book. I just wouldnt recommend petting them... Here is some reading: http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/inv...hautfirewo.htm

03/29/2006, 04:09 PM	#8
nutto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: hoffman estates,IL Posts: 294	titanfan thanks for the artical. dang my is the red one .they 're predetor .now any body know how to get rid of them ?? the one I found is like skinny but long about 6 ince.I guess that not a good size ...pls I need some advice.

03/29/2006, 08:11 PM	#9
nutto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: hoffman estates,IL Posts: 294	anyone has any idea how can I get rid of fire worm pls help??

03/29/2006, 09:40 PM	#12
nutto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: hoffman estates,IL Posts: 294	I just check it again .I guess u right they just have pink color and hair but has no red feather weew ... good so I can just leave them in their. thanks a lot.

03/29/2006, 09:45 PM	#13
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	No problem. I just don't want to see good worms go to waste After all, that is primarily what you are paying for when you buy live rock __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/29/2006, 10:04 PM	#14
BigElephant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cerritos, CA Posts: 204	Amphiprion, Can't see your post. I guess you are limited by the Geocities. Can you post the picture of fireworm on this forum? I like to see one. I am new and never see one before. __________________ ~ Sean Current Tank Info: 45 gal tank, 1 Pair false Perc since 2006 all others died, Leather - all others died as well.

03/29/2006, 10:09 PM	#15
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Sure. Here are a few pics fireworm 1 fireworm 2 If those don't work for you, go to Google.com, then go to images and type Hermodice carunculata. IMO, they are actually quite beautiful creatures, despite their habits. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/30/2006, 01:14 AM	#16
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you have H. carunculata, they should be out and about munching on corals, etc, and you might be able to nab them with plastic tongs. Color isn't a useful guide, since lots of fireworms are red. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni