Help! I found a black worm

[nrogan]

First and foremost i would like someone to elaborate what this type of creature is. Also am i able to reintroduce it to my tank if it is reef safe?

 

[triggreef]

bristle worm, good cleaner.

It sure doesn't look black to me. You may want to have your eyes checked on that.

 

[nrogan]

you sure its a bristle worm? cause i thought bristle worms were red

 

[tanked37]

you sure its a bristle worm? cause i thought bristle worms were red

??? It looks red. Maybe flip it over. Don't touch, but looks like a bristle worm.

 

[Apotack]

It's one worm. If it bothers you or you are not sure about it toss it. It's already out of the tank.

That said it looks like a bristle worm to me.

 

[Gagonzalez]

Yep.....Fat Bristleworm. Looks Red to me too!

 

[McGarnicle]

Looks definitely like a bristleworm

 

[thebanker]

That is a large polychaete worm. They are colloquially called "bristle worms" but that is like calling a specific species of rabbit a "bunny."

Some people don't mind them, but personally I think they are heinous. I have taken great lengths to get them out of my tank, not only because of how they look but their bristles are extremely fine and will sting/burn the skin on contact.

Like the other guys said, it will be essentially harmless in your tank's ecosystem.