What the heck is this thingy?

[Mindflux]

http://i.imgur.com/5IwgF.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/LfbtK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ercSo.jpg

Some kind of spiny red worm?

[stl fish spot]

this looks like a bristol worm, use caution they will ***** you. any better pics???

[Mindflux]

this looks like a bristol worm, use caution they will ***** you. any better pics???

Sorry that's the best I could get on my phone.

Googling for bristle worm seems to confirm you though. Its red with spikes on it's spine.

[stl fish spot]

how long have you had your tank???

[Mindflux]

Month or so. LR is 5 years old though.

[stl fish spot]

there is a good chance there is more than what you see. they sift the sand so its hard to get a count. they arent bad for the tank other than if the get big enough the can kill fish. yours looks pretty big you might ask a few others too. but they are scavengers so the will work with your cleaning crew

[chrischin29g]

Bristle worm! Creepy thingd but I guess there good to have as state

Good scavengers!

Make sure it's not a fire worm

[crvz]

it looks much like a bristleworm to me as well. They're good at eating wastes in the tank, I wouldnt worry about them. Some people have reactions when they touch the bristles, but I've never experienced this.

[NirvanaFan]

there is a good chance there is more than what you see. they sift the sand so its hard to get a count. they arent bad for the tank other than if the get big enough the can kill fish. yours looks pretty big you might ask a few others too. but they are scavengers so the will work with your cleaning crew

bristle worms will not kill fish. They will eat dead fish though.

Bristle worms are a great part of your clean up crew. Their populations will increase and decrease with the amount of food you feed.

[MinnesotaTwins]

Yep Bristle worm, if you start getting a lot more then you like, a coral banded shrimp will kill a bunch. Mine at night struts around pullin the little ones out, really fun to watch.