IS this worm hostile?

[Gravis]

Hi guys!

I just set up a Red Sea S-max 650 in my living room.
The tank got filled with live rock and water 2 days ago. My girlfriend took these pictures today, and im wondering if this hitchhiker is hostile or friendly. if it is friendly i think it is kind of cool, but if not, how to get the guy out?

Cheers
Kristian

 

[username in use]

Nah, harmless bristle worm. They keep all the holes in the rock cleaned out.

 

[homer1475]

+1 Harmless bristle worm, just don't touch it! The bristles will get stuck in your finger and irritate it. Their bristles are very similar to fiberglass.

They are a great part of your CUC. Not only do they hide in your sandbed and every little hole in your rockwork, they eat any detritus. Some people think their ugly and get rid of them, but you should leave them be. Also if you see an explosion of them, you have to many nutrients in your tank. They will self regulate their population based on available food.

 

[Sk8r]

I'm not so sure. Look up: hermodice carunculata, which is the true fireworm. I tried to get you a pic, but photobucket is not behaving nicely. Also look up: eunicid. If either of those, remove or exile to the sump.

 

[Gravis]

Thank you so much for your help! i havent seen the little guy my self.... It looks lik it has Legs that look like "fur" like the fireworm, but i dont think it has the same red colour?

 

[Sk8r]

Let me try again with photobucket, which is being a beast today. Got it. THIS is a fireworm---one of the prettiest worms there is. But not good for your tank.
g

 

[doradosteve]

They call them FIREworm for a reason . . . .

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

OP, your picture is sideways and not clear enough to make a positive ID. When you see it again pull it and put it in a clear container of tank water and take a few pics.

 

[JamesFWB]

It's safe but so ugly!! I take them out when I see them.

 

[Rallos]

How big is it? I've seen some monsters.

 

[DvBrien]

Here's the one I pulled out over 10 incest long and thick as a sharpie before I grabbed him!

 

[Land_shark067]

bristle worms are harmless but I still like to remove any big ones I can get ahold of just to keep the population in check. mostly just a cleaner who comes out at night. nothing to worry about.

 

[username in use]

That photo looks more like a fireworm.

 

[Gravis]

Thanks again for your advice! Il try to get the little guy out if I see him again!

 

[Gravis]

Hi again guys! Found a new guy in the tank.

any ideas about him?

And I see people talking about getting them out. But I really don't want to touch him

Where can I get the proper equipment to get this guy's out?

 

[Maxxingout]

You can use tweezers.

 

[Capt.Nemo]

appears to just be the old Bristle worm. not a fan, but I let them hang out cause folks said they are beneficial. if I see one of good size, I snag him with my tweezers and dangle him in front of my Red Banded Coral shrimp.
he grabs it, rips it in 2 and eats him up.

population control

 

[Gravis]

appears to just be the old Bristle worm. not a fan, but I let them hang out cause folks said they are beneficial. if I see one of good size, I snag him with my tweezers and dangle him in front of my Red Banded Coral shrimp.
he grabs it, rips it in 2 and eats him up.

population control

Sounds like a brutal but kind of awesome way of keeping pop-control. Take a video and post it next time