bristle worms

[angelsj247]

i saw a bristle worm once.. the day i got my rock. it came out of the rock when the lights were on only for a couple of seconds then hid again. i have never seen it since.. after the lights went out either. do you think it could still be in there somewhere.. i just think there crepy looking. that was about 2 months ago.
thanks

 

[Jerry W]

You probably have several, and yes, you won't always see them.

 

[Amphiprion]

They are still there--and you probably have more than just several. Leave them be, since the vast majority of species found in our aquaria are beneficial anyway.

 

[L and L]

Get a red LED flashlight and check out your tank after the lights have gone off for several hours and you'll find all KINDS of things you've never seen before.

Lot's of worms. There are 10,000 known species of worms.

Most likely it was a "common" bristle worm that most everyone has in their tanks.

Good article about bristle worms.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/rs/index.php

 

[angelsj247]

i have a red flashlight i use, i do see alot of nightlife but ive never seen the bristle worm again.

 

[spoiledcats]

It doesn't really matter whether you see them or not. They are good for the tank as long as they aren't those nasty red polyp eating ones. One time I had a population explosion of those things, but then it died down. Now I have an arrow crab and orchid dottyback to keep them under control. Still have a bunch of them though.