wierd looking worm on existing live rock

addicted · 10-08-2007, 10:46 PM

I just noticed today a wierd worm on a piece of live rock (that's been in the tank some time). It's hard to describe it's really small, but looks like it has tiny legs growing out of it's side (similar to a millipede) and it's got hundreds of them.

The body has red on the top half and black on the bottom half. It seems to be eating stuff off the rocks but what is this bug, worm, millipede thing I am seeing and should I remove it or is it peaceful?

Dentoid · 10-08-2007, 10:48 PM

Bristle worm.

addicted · 10-08-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

Bristle worm.

is he ok to be left in there, or should I try to get it out? Well from what I just read it looks like he's ok to be left as long as he's not getting to big, right?

Dentoid · 10-08-2007, 10:56 PM

Most Bristle worms are safe, they eat detritus and uneaten food. The big ones can be problematic though. Personally, I'd leave it in there. Can you estimate how big it is?

addicted · 10-08-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

Most Bristle worms are safe, they eat detritus and uneaten food. The big ones can be problematic though. Personally, I'd leave it in there. Can you estimate how big it is?

maybe like 3/4 to 1 inch long. It was sort of hard to tell because it's back half matched perfect basically with the corraline algea on the rock. It seemed to be eating stuff off the rock.

l3atman3 · 10-09-2007, 09:39 PM

i notice that i have one of these guys in my tank - He is getting fairly large - what are the problems when they get too big ?

lcstorc · 10-09-2007, 10:18 PM

They are scavengers and are a helpful member of our clean up crew. Just do not touch them. The bristles will stick in you and some are poisonous.
I think the reason people take them out when they get big is that they are afraid of accidentally touching one but I am not sure on that. None of mine have gotten that big that I have seen. A couple of inches is the biggest I have seen roaming around.

johnbljr · 10-31-2007, 03:50 PM

It is probably larger than you think, most of it's body wa probably hidden in the rock. Try feeding your tank right after the lights go off then take a look and see if he comes out. Depending on the size of your tank it should not be a problem. I have one in my 14gal nano and it is about 6-10 inches long and it is not a problem...he does a good job helping keep the sand clean....

chum · 11-02-2007, 05:21 AM

I read somewhere that once the bristleworm is established, for every 1 you see, ten more are hidden that you don't see.
One night as I was feeding the lps after lights out, I saw this orange liquid detritus come squirting out from a live rock and upon focusing my flashlight on the rock, I saw this huge orange worm retract into the rock. That was scarey

to think of the bristles he could throw out, he was probably about 6 inches long, judging by his width. I have prefilters on my powerheads and frequently when rinsing them out with my bare hands, I feel bristles in them which leave a prickley jagging feeling for a day or so afterwards.

10-08-2007, 10:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
addicted Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 64 View Gallery Karma Komment	wierd looking worm on existing live rock I just noticed today a wierd worm on a piece of live rock (that's been in the tank some time). It's hard to describe it's really small, but looks like it has tiny legs growing out of it's side (similar to a millipede) and it's got hundreds of them. The body has red on the top half and black on the bottom half. It seems to be eating stuff off the rocks but what is this bug, worm, millipede thing I am seeing and should I remove it or is it peaceful?

10-08-2007, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,539 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wierd looking worm on existing live rock Bristle worm. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

10-08-2007, 10:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,539 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wierd looking worm on existing live rock Most Bristle worms are safe, they eat detritus and uneaten food. The big ones can be problematic though. Personally, I'd leave it in there. Can you estimate how big it is? __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

10-09-2007, 09:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
l3atman3 Tunicate Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 17 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wierd looking worm on existing live rock i notice that i have one of these guys in my tank - He is getting fairly large - what are the problems when they get too big ?

10-09-2007, 10:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,439 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: wierd looking worm on existing live rock They are scavengers and are a helpful member of our clean up crew. Just do not touch them. The bristles will stick in you and some are poisonous. I think the reason people take them out when they get big is that they are afraid of accidentally touching one but I am not sure on that. None of mine have gotten that big that I have seen. A couple of inches is the biggest I have seen roaming around. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

10-31-2007, 03:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnbljr Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 117 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wierd looking worm on existing live rock It is probably larger than you think, most of it's body wa probably hidden in the rock. Try feeding your tank right after the lights go off then take a look and see if he comes out. Depending on the size of your tank it should not be a problem. I have one in my 14gal nano and it is about 6-10 inches long and it is not a problem...he does a good job helping keep the sand clean.... __________________

11-02-2007, 05:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
chum Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 52 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: wierd looking worm on existing live rock I read somewhere that once the bristleworm is established, for every 1 you see, ten more are hidden that you don't see. One night as I was feeding the lps after lights out, I saw this orange liquid detritus come squirting out from a live rock and upon focusing my flashlight on the rock, I saw this huge orange worm retract into the rock. That was scarey to think of the bristles he could throw out, he was probably about 6 inches long, judging by his width. I have prefilters on my powerheads and frequently when rinsing them out with my bare hands, I feel bristles in them which leave a prickley jagging feeling for a day or so afterwards. __________________ Set up: 65 gal mixed-100 lb.tonga & figi.Fluval canister filter 304, 2X65 watt PC by sunpaq, 420&460NM Dual actinic, 6,700&10,000K Dual daylight, 3 power heads, 3" sand bed, prizm skimmer hang-on. Fish: Scopis tang 5", 3 pajama cardinals, 2 clarki anemone, manderin, flame dart, green chromis, Inverts: 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 peppermint shrimp, 4 feather dusters, 2 serpent stars. Corals: pulsating xenia, 3 leather mushrooms, chili cactus, colt, kenya tree, finger, coralmorphins, yellow buttons polyp zooanthids, Christmas tree coral, yellow & red gorgonians, tongue plate, orange cup Second tank: 55 gal FOWLR: for agressive fish: 8" speckled fin grouper, 6" dwarf fuzzy lionfish, choc. chip starfish, hermits, pencil urchin. _____________________________________________ The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Num. 6:24-26)

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