Worm Identification(Looks like the Devil) Red Eyes

[AQUA DAVE]

Don't know what kind of worm this is but it is in my mag float and is breeding. there are babies crawling next to her. If anyone knows what kind of worm this is please let me know. Thanks

 

[Flavum]

brsitle worm. there fine

 

[billsreef]

[moved]

 

[xinumaster]

looks like a phyllodocidae.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Pretty sure this doesn't look like any bristle worm that I have ever seen. I think xin hit it on the button. Do you know if this is a bad worm or is it ok?

 

[xinumaster]

"Brittle worm" is a common name for all worms that have hair like structure normally used for defense.

Phyllodocidae are predators usually on smaller worms.

 

[LeslieH]

Sorry, Perry - it's the epitoke (spawning) stage of a nereid polychaete. At this point in its life the animal isnt' feeding on anything. Nereids feed on a variety of items; it depends on the species.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Thanks, guys and gals! So I'm guessing that i should take it out of the tank.

 

[LeslieH]

Naw, don't worry about it. This type will die as soon as it spawns. Without an individual of the opposite sex spawning simultaneously there's no chance of juveniles.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

There are Juviniles already on the magnet

 

[Flavum]

well kill em than aqua dave

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Flavum If I wanted an un-educated opinion I would have asked you, not Leslie. I haven't ever seen this type of in any tank that I have set up or Maintenanced. That is why I asked the worm experts! All I wanted to know is if this is going to harm anything else in my tank? You say just kill it. I will wait to see what leslie says.

 

[sabalough]

I've had them ( at least something that looks just like that to me, as I am definatly not a worm expert) for years, they dont seem to bother anything.

 

[LeslieH]

Hi Dave --
I don't think these nereids will do any harm. I've had much bigger ones. All they did was hide in their burrows until it was dinner time when they came out to clean up all the excess food. If you want to send some of the juveniles to me I can confirm if they're the same sort of worm or something different.