"Godzilla" Fireworm

chrisguy

chrisguy

New member
Managed to get a picture of my "Godzilla" Fireworm. This Fireworm is about 10" long. It's usually hidden by day, but from time to time will be out and about. I have another that is about the same diameter but only about 6" long. Other than these two all others are pretty small.

fireworm.JPG
 
Wow, yours is kinda purdy. Excellent picture too!

I mostly just have the drab looking Fireworms. I don't really know how long this one is.
2417polychaete2.jpg
 
Am I wrong? I thought those are bristles

Foreworms are RED, RED

and the 7 footer was a euclid worm.

If I'm being over technical-sorry.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7118452#post7118452 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
Am I wrong? I thought those are bristles

Foreworms are RED, RED

and the 7 footer was a euclid worm.

If I'm being over technical-sorry.
Click to expand...
Impossible to be "over technical". Nice post, Kent.
Some people call bristleworms "fireworms"- a reason common names are so confusing.

Nice pic, Chris.
Personally, I think I'd yank that thing. (Looks like Hermodice carunculata ). sp?
 
usfireworm1.jpg


Gary I think your right. I found this picture Which is from Panama City Fl and most of my LR is from the Keys, not too far away.

Weird thing is that my tank is mostly soft corals with a couple LPS and SPS. This thing is described as Fireworms are voracious predators that feed on soft and hard corals, anemones, and small crustaceans. . On more than one occasion it's "walked" right past my sebae and never bothered either BTA. All softies look good. The only think I have noticed is that some red mushrooms went MIA after I moved them to the tank, but all other corals seem to be present and accounted for.

I wouldn't mind if it started eating Green Star Polyps and/or Green Stripe Mushrooms, these things are growing out of control.

For now I'm going to leave it in there, but I will keep an eye on things. This one is also not 100% nocturnal, as several have described, so it may be a different species, but the resemblance is too close for me to tell.

BUT, if I see trouble, it's off to the sump with the rock crabs.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7118452#post7118452 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
Am I wrong? I thought those are bristles

Foreworms are RED, RED

and the 7 footer was a euclid worm.

If I'm being over technical-sorry.
Click to expand...

Polychaete means many bristles (loosely translated). I think the common name Bristleworm covers a multitude of Family including feather dusters, Spaghetti Worms, Hair Worms, etc. and of course, Fireworms.

In my opinion "Fireworm" is the common name for any of the Bristle worms in the Amphinomidae Family. I've seen red, green, yellow, orange, even an irridescent one displaying every color in the rainbow. In other words Hermodice carunculata is a Fireworm but not all Fireworms are Hermodice carunculata.

But then that is a problem with common names, they are subject to interpretation and opinion.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7122678#post7122678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Guy
I appologize for my attempt to share knowledge.
Click to expand...
NEVER appologize for sharing knowledge! And PLEASE do not hold back your vast knowledge!!

While I can't speak for Kent E I don't believe his smiley face was directed at you.
 
Guy, Nothing against you. I just had a realization just how much of a nerd I have become, thats all.

Chris guy, Nice interesting pictures. Didn't mean to jump on the technical aspect of it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7123741#post7123741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
Guy, Nothing against you. I just had a realization just how much of a nerd I have become, thats all.

Chris guy, Nice interesting pictures. Didn't mean to jump on the technical aspect of it.
Click to expand...

Cool. :cool:

Nothing wrong with being a reef nerd - just ask Gary :p
 
CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!!

CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!!

First, thanks to all for the EXCELLENT information.

Since it was brought to my attention that "Godzilla" might be a very hungery (bad) fireworm, I've been watching each night to try to see what it's doing. Wouldn't you know that for the past several nights it's been no where to be found.

Tonight I caught the worm with a mouth FULL of purple pimple mushroom. These are the only things that I noticed have been disapearing in the tank. In the past I have lost some zoa frags, but I thought it was just me and being new to the hobby. Initially I thought the disapearing mushrooms was my imagination or possibly something I did. But as I said, tonight I caught it and remove the rock with the worm, and as I removed "Godzilla" from the rock, it's mouth opened and out came one of the last of the mushrooms.

The worm is now in the fuge. Nothing else in there but some LR, pods and Chaeto. I mention this incase anyone thinks that's a bad idea. My plan is to put some mushrooms in there from time to time, once the population returns, to feed it.

Again, USR is great and saved my tank from worm hell!!!
 
Re: CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!!

Re: CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7134917#post7134917 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisguy

The worm is now in the fuge. Nothing else in there but some LR, pods and Chaeto. I mention this incase anyone thinks that's a bad idea. My plan is to put some mushrooms in there from time to time, once the population returns, to feed it.
Click to expand...

Wow, you are way too nice of a person!

I'd take it to The Fish Place in NT, I've seen them sell bristleworms is the past. Otherwise, i would try and find someone with a fish only system that would take it and give it the chance to change its diet. If that didn't work out I'd flush it or freeze it (more humane I hear). Although slight there's always the chance it could breed or make its way back into your display.
 
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