Redbellyjx
New member
Just picked up a chili coral and it has an orange worm on it. Id?
Worm id please
- Thread starter Redbellyjx
- Start date
Ryan-UF
New member
Looks to me like a bristle worm. Does it look... 'fuzzy'?
If so, do not touch it with your bare hands. They are generally harmless, but that 'furr' is fiberglass-like bristles that are hell to get out of your fingers. Use tweezers. If you do get them on you, duct tape.
On a happier note, they are amazing bottom-of-the-foodchain decomposers. I like to have a lot of bristleworms in my tank because it incredibly helps any bioload issues on my filtration (in a natural way), but they creep out a lot of my friends.
If so, do not touch it with your bare hands. They are generally harmless, but that 'furr' is fiberglass-like bristles that are hell to get out of your fingers. Use tweezers. If you do get them on you, duct tape.
On a happier note, they are amazing bottom-of-the-foodchain decomposers. I like to have a lot of bristleworms in my tank because it incredibly helps any bioload issues on my filtration (in a natural way), but they creep out a lot of my friends.
Salamander
Active member
Looks like a plain old bristle worm. Good luck with that coral, they have poor survival rates in captivity.
Ryan-UF
New member
Oh, double posting but two more things:
Rumor has it that if you cut a bristle worm in half they turn into two worms. I don't agree with this but they do not have a central nervous system so I guess it is possible. Unlikely tho in my opinion, never tested it.
Also, there are two types. The pink ones which it looks like from the picture are as harmless as I described above. If they are a dark red then get that thing out fast! These are referred to as 'fire worms' and really burn if stung. Have heard they can also be quite poisonous. You will be able to tell the difference very easily though, and I recommend a google image search to compare.
Rumor has it that if you cut a bristle worm in half they turn into two worms. I don't agree with this but they do not have a central nervous system so I guess it is possible. Unlikely tho in my opinion, never tested it.
Also, there are two types. The pink ones which it looks like from the picture are as harmless as I described above. If they are a dark red then get that thing out fast! These are referred to as 'fire worms' and really burn if stung. Have heard they can also be quite poisonous. You will be able to tell the difference very easily though, and I recommend a google image search to compare.
Redbellyjx
New member
Thanks for heads up. Erred on the side of caution and tossed it out. Thought it was a bristle worm, but didn't realize there was a helpful variety
Thanks again guys
Thanks again guys
Ryan-UF
New member
Wanted to throw this in from another post here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1933100
Just as an FYI
Just as an FYI
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