Fish stung by Bristleworm?

[Vitaly]

I have owned a Fridmani Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani) for about 6 months and he has been healthy and happy. This morning I noticed that there are white, thin, fibrous structures extending from his left side (none of the right side). I have been watching him this morning and he is eating, actively swimming and not showing any obvious symptoms of infection (gill flaring, lethargy, etc).

Here are some pictures of these structures. I purposefully overexposed the image to enhance the structures.

Could this white, fibrous processes be bristle's for the bristleworm? I have been stung on a few occasions and this looks similar to the appearance of my fingers following contact. If these are bristleworm stings will the Fridmani shed them naturally?

 

[LukFox]

I've heard of fish, especially wrasses, dottybacks, and gobies, getting stung by bristleworms. It probably encountered one in a cave. The bristles will shed in a few days to a week.

 

[bhdmc]

Looking at the second photo, you must have one large bristleworm to leave that size bristles on your Fridmani.

 

[Vitaly]

There are a decent amount in my tank...and some are quite big. A few I have personally encountered when re-arranging thing in the tank.

There are at least two phenotypically distinct populations/species. Most are small and are only out at night. There are a few large one that come out during the day when I feed the tank. I figure this one is at least 6" if fully extended.

 

[acrodave]

all of the red sea fish including all the Pseudochromis eat bristle worms.And im sure it will be fine. i have a female clown that fights them away from her nest and she gets mouth full or the bristles in her mouth and she still eats and after a day or so they are gone