What the hell is this thing?!!!!

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Rheg915

New Member
Hi all, I have a RSM 130 which I have extensively modified. Have a lot of corals in the tank, and I walk by at night and I see this DAMN SEA MONSTER in my tank. I think I remember months ago reading about some nasty thing that this look a hell of a lot like. I got lucky because I snagged it and threw it on the floor. It shrunk to a third of his size outside the water. Needless to say, he is outside in the Minnesota Snow right now. I have 5 fishes, SPS, LPS and a clam in the tank. I will post pics of those soon, but this was on my Zoanthid. What the hell is it, and are there more of them? I have not gotten new rock or coral in like 5 months.

I think it is hermodice carunculata. Anyone have experience with it?

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Here are some pics.


Thanks
 
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Rheg915

New Member
Update:

Just found another one hiding under a rock, this is either a fire or bristle worm. I am really worried about this.
 
RSM250PEARL

RSM250PEARL

Member
Looks like a bristle worm to me. It's a scavenger and won't harm anything from my experience. Although I have heard that you should remove really big ones. Hope that helps.
 
RSM250PEARL

RSM250PEARL

Member
Is that when it's shrivelled up? I took one out of an old tank before and it was about 8" in the bucket. I left it and came back to find it had stretched out to more than a foot and a half. But I don't know how big is too big when it comes to these worms. I'm just glad I got it out and there was no way he was going back in even if he was "safe" theyre nasty looking things right?! lol
 
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Rheg915

New Member
DEFINITELY WILL NOT!!! If this is a fireworm, they are atleast 6 inches, does anything eat them? I am afraid they are like rats, see one, there are 10 you don't see.
 
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redsea reefer

Well-Known Member
I don't think there is anything that eats Fireworms, Your best bet is to manually remove them when you see it. You could also try a worm trap with Mysis in it, although, they primarily prey on coral.
 
reeferman

reeferman

Well-Known Member
oh yeah,ive got a 12-14" bw in my tank and its a great part of the cuc.its not a fireworm though.mine looks identical to pics 3 and 5.
 
Mischko

Mischko

Member
Usually you don't have to worry about those greyish/pinkish ones though they get big/long. They look nasty, I admit, sort of creepy and unhealthy somehow, but as stated before, they are scavengers, clean up up the tank feeding on lots of dead stuff. Usually you will have a healthy bristle worm population. You should start being abit worried if you see a lot of them crawling around in your tank at day light though! Then something is wrong.
And since I am such a nice person, here is an interesting link for you folks to creep you out. I think it was posted here before.
Good way to keep the bristle worm population down is to have one of those in your tank. A Mitra mitra, look nice, too.
 
nanoreefing4fun

nanoreefing4fun

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
they get back in the rock where food floats, where snails can't reach - they tend to self regulate... if you have lots of big ones... you are most likely overfeeding - most tanks have some - good members of cuc - cheers !
 
Mischko

Mischko

Member
But, but , but, the look so ugly and creepy LOL. I think, from what I read and heard, as long as they are not black, they are safe to keep!
 
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fish101

New Member
nice bristleworm, if it is large. get rid of it if there large. they'll eat anything and i mean ANYTHING(includes YOU).
 
nanoreefing4fun

nanoreefing4fun

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
If Reggie has identical ones... and says they are safe... I would feel pretty confident, but I still would try to to touch um ... Cheers !
 
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Rheg915

New Member
Do these things eat algae? Because I have an algae bloom for the past month that is finally getting under control. I dont feed much at all though, only 2 cubes, 3-4 a week for 5 fish.

Don't understand how I have 2 of these monsters.
 
nanoreefing4fun

nanoreefing4fun

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
They came in your LR or possibly on a rock that had a coral on it ... I don't think they eat alage

Do you have a 130 or a 250? 2 cubes, 3-4 a week - quite a bit... for a 130
 
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