Don't flush that fireworm!

[kmk2307]

Hey all,

If anyone gets a fireworm in on live rock and plans to dispose of it, a researcher in my lab is working on this group's phylogeny ("family tree") and is looking for specimens. Please PM me if you would be willing to ship it to her. Your shipping cost would be reimbursed.

She already has plenty of the common aquarium "bristle worms" Eurythoe sp. but she is looking for other species.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Elysia]

I have a bristleworm that I recently pulled out of my tank that isn't the normal pink/grey, but an allover irridescent mercury type color. It has both red and white bristles. I haven't managed a good photo of it yet. Is this the kind of worm your co-worker is interested in? He was punctured when he was removed from the tank, though, although he is still alive.

[kmk2307]

As long as the head is intact (for ID purposes) I think she would want it. She is actually out of town right now but will be back around the 7th. Would you mind keeping it alive until then? A pic with the head in focus would be great if possible.

[kmk2307]

Hey Elysia. Do you still have that worm?

[Elysia]

Sorry, although I was changing the water of the container it was in and all, it finally gave up the ghost. It is the second one like this that I have found of late, so I wouldn't rule out another, which I would be more than happy to send. I'm still not certain what species it was, but it looks like the "fireworms" pictured in Reef Invertebrates by Calfo & Fenner on p. 172

[dasaint]

hello, i was led to this because someone said you might be able to ID my fireworms that i have.. i have been told by another forum to remove them could you tell me what i got

http://www.dsc-services.com/~dasaint/fish/one.jpg
http://www.dsc-services.com/~dasaint/fish/two.jpg
http://www.dsc-services.com/~dasaint/fish/three.jpg
http://www.dsc-services.com/~dasaint/fish/four.jpg

[LeslieH]

dasaint - Yes it's a fireworm but probably Eurythoe complanata rather than the bearded fireworm Hermodice carunculata. Which is good as Hermodice is a gorgonian predator while Eurythoe is a scavenger & detritivore.

[Elysia]

Question, Leslie. Are these Eurythoe a different species than the so-called "typical" reef tank bristleworm? They do not have that pink color of the "slender" typical ones, and they are a consistent color/shading over the body, unlike the "half-and-half" color of the typicals.

[LeslieH]

When I sort through algae & coral rubble in the field I usually find tons of Eurythoe starting from just a fraction of an inch up to a foot long. Juveniles often have thinner, more translucent skin so the digestive tract shows through. As they get larger the skin thickens & the adult color develops. Concerning aquarium animals, unless someone sends me some animals to examine I can't be positive about whether the "typicals" are juveniles of Eurythoe or one of the smaller species in the family.

[kmk2307]

Thanks dasaint. I forwarded the pictures on to Liz. Did they come in on live rock? Do you know where it was from?

[dasaint]

i assume the arrived on some rock a while back i have had this tank for 8 months and the piece of live rock they currently inhabit is one of the newest pieces, ~ 4 months old i think they got in through it and stayed in it... because its the only real Pourus rock i got in the tank.. the rest of the rocks are solid no holes...