bristleworms

[jmoney]

I just spotted one near my ricordea and another near my zoanthids, I have no idea how they got here and I have never seen one in this tank for the year it has been around, what should I do? I read they have venom in their sides, so I cant just reach in and pull it out. I have mostly soft corals so I'm freaking out just a little bit

 

[sir_dudeguy]

First of all...no need to worry. Bristle worms are perfectly normal and good to have. They're not going to do anything to your corals or other animals. They're just worms that eat crap

I have no idea how they got here

easy...rock, corals, etc...anything that you put in your tank that came from an already running tank or a tank at the LFS could have them on it. Live rock is the main thing they come in on.

As for venom...no they're not venemous. You most certainly can just pick them out with your hands...i wouldnt advise that though, because they've got tons of little bristles (hence the name) along them that are sharp and can stick in you. Like a small splinter, nothing major. Its really annoying when they stick you, but its not so bad unless you get like an allergic reaction or something. If they get you, just soak your hand in vinegar. The bristles are made out of calcium...somethingrather (carbonate??) and the vinegar dissolves it.

 

[Ace1]

makes me feel alote better because i just had an encounter with a pretty large bristle worm that came out at feeding time, with the lights on!!! and started crawling on my Acan... boy did i panic!! but i couldnt really do anything, so it lives in my rocks somwhere:-\

But why does every one say to get them out??

 

[TikiDan]

This is one reason to get them out of your tank. Nosy clownfish sticking their eyes where they don't belong! Don't worry he survived.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

But why does every one say to get them out??

well...most think they're bad because for one they look ugly, and for another they dont know what they do

 

[jmoney]

well that isnt exactly what I have in there it is a hermodice carunculata, the coral eating fireworm.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

you got a pic? Fireworms are a type of bristle i guess, but there is a difference between the good and bad ones..

 

[jmoney]

I can post one in the morning my roomate took some pictures

 

[jmoney]

I can't get my camera working for some reason its been awhile since I've used it, its long and red with the bristles coming out the side the book I found them in said they were venomous

 

[drummereef]

I've never meet a bristleworm that has been of detriment to my tank. They are good, imo.

 

[jmoney]

well until there is damage to the soft corals im goin to relax, but I'm still gonna pull them out with some tongs every time I see one