Is This a Fireworm?

USMarine1171 · 08/30/2006, 08:35 AM

This thing is about 5 inches long and keeps going in and out of the piece of rock my xenia is attached to. It hitch hiked with the rock.

kjbudsberg · 08/30/2006, 08:41 AM

yep.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/30/2006, 08:42 AM

It looks like your common bristleworm; the polychaete Eurythoe complanata. Or at least a Eurythoe species. It could be a variety of other Polychaetes, but it would take some detailed pictures to find out. I highly doubt that it is any sort of predator such as Oenone fulgida, though they look rather similar at first glance.

FWIW, here is the Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) which is often refered to as just a "Fireworm"

skeeter-doc · 08/30/2006, 08:46 AM

yes, marine, what you have there is more commonly known as a bristleworm

just a lowly scavenger that helps to keep your tank clean

pjhaddock · 08/30/2006, 11:09 AM

Here is one I pulled out of my tank once, I posted it here on RC and the conclusion was that it was very doubtful that it was a fireworm. I took him out anyways!!

I have seen a few more in my tank that are similar, but nowhere near as brightly red and white as this one was....

LeslieH · 08/30/2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pjhaddock
Here is one I pulled out of my tank once, I posted it here on RC and the conclusion was that it was very doubtful that it was a fireworm. I took him out anyways!! I have seen a few more in my tank that are similar, but nowhere near as brightly red and white as this one was....

Doubtful????

You were wise to pull it. It was Hermodice carunculata, the one fireworm that's known to eat corals!

Marine's worm does belong to the family Amphinomidae which includes fireworms. It could be Eurythoe or belong to another genus - the picture simply isn't good enough to tell. But at least it's not Hermodice and is relatively harmless.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/30/2006, 02:48 PM

Agreed, LeslieH

I'm glad you pulled it out, too, pjhaddock

USMarine1171 · 08/30/2006, 03:43 PM

Thanks for the info gents. Sorry about the picture quality. That's the best my camera can do, short of submerging it

. It is red for about the first inch you can see, then the rest of it is a blue color. The sides of it has white "legs." It reminds me of a millipede and personally I don't find it very aesthetic. But as long as it is harmless I guess I'll have to get over it.

Sk8r · 08/30/2006, 03:50 PM

Marine, that's pretty characteristic of a bristleworm, prettiest thing you'll ever see if you find a fat mega snail dead under the rockwork. Clean as a whistle by morning.

USMarine1171 · 08/30/2006, 03:52 PM

That little worm will eat a whole xl snail overnight?

dang

Travis L. Stevens · 08/30/2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by USMarine1171
That little worm will eat a whole xl snail overnight?

dang

A dead snail.

j_gilbert · 08/30/2006, 04:42 PM

bristleworm

08/30/2006, 08:35 AM	#1
USMarine1171 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 17	Is This a Fireworm? This thing is about 5 inches long and keeps going in and out of the piece of rock my xenia is attached to. It hitch hiked with the rock. __________________ "Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." --Ned Dolan

08/30/2006, 08:42 AM	#3
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It looks like your common bristleworm; the polychaete Eurythoe complanata. Or at least a Eurythoe species. It could be a variety of other Polychaetes, but it would take some detailed pictures to find out. I highly doubt that it is any sort of predator such as Oenone fulgida, though they look rather similar at first glance. FWIW, here is the Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) which is often refered to as just a "Fireworm" __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/30/2006, 11:09 AM	#5
pjhaddock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 466	Here is one I pulled out of my tank once, I posted it here on RC and the conclusion was that it was very doubtful that it was a fireworm. I took him out anyways!! I have seen a few more in my tank that are similar, but nowhere near as brightly red and white as this one was.... __________________ Philip Jacksonville, FL 120G with 40G Sump Current Tank Info: 120G AGA RR

08/30/2006, 02:48 PM	#7
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Agreed, LeslieH I'm glad you pulled it out, too, pjhaddock __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/30/2006, 03:43 PM	#8
USMarine1171 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 17	Thanks for the info gents. Sorry about the picture quality. That's the best my camera can do, short of submerging it . It is red for about the first inch you can see, then the rest of it is a blue color. The sides of it has white "legs." It reminds me of a millipede and personally I don't find it very aesthetic. But as long as it is harmless I guess I'll have to get over it. __________________ "Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." --Ned Dolan

08/30/2006, 08:41 AM	#2
kjbudsberg Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 89	yep.

08/30/2006, 08:46 AM	#4
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	yes, marine, what you have there is more commonly known as a bristleworm just a lowly scavenger that helps to keep your tank clean

08/30/2006, 03:50 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Marine, that's pretty characteristic of a bristleworm, prettiest thing you'll ever see if you find a fat mega snail dead under the rockwork. Clean as a whistle by morning. __________________ 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%.

08/30/2006, 03:52 PM	#10
USMarine1171 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 17	That little worm will eat a whole xl snail overnight? dang __________________ "Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." --Ned Dolan

08/30/2006, 04:42 PM	#12
j_gilbert Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 83	bristleworm