Is this a parasite

[JonV88]

The worm at the bottom that looks kind of like a caterpillar238997

[JonV88]

238998

[tektite]

Bristle worm, good member of your CUC, just don't touch them :)

[xrayjeeper83]

I'd agree, bristle worm, ugly but does great at cleaning up left overs.

[JonV88]

Ok thanks, got me nervous when I saw it, never seen anything like that in my tank before

[Reefmedic79]

If there is one there are many, many more.

[JonV88]

What happens if I touch it

[JonV88]

So be careful when moving my live rock or coral?

[Lynxone]

Wear gloves. They can get ya

[tektite]

Their bristles will stick in your finger, highly annoying. Kinda like fiberglass. If it does happen just scrub your hands as hard as you can with a towel to break off all the bristles. I'm always getting stuck with them, got some monsters in my sump lol. They like the extra food from my platinum clowns :)

[JonV88]

Ok so it's like getting insulation on you

[tektite]

Plus their spines cause irritation/itching for a day or so in some people.

[Dmorty217]

Ok so it's like getting insulation on you

Yes potentially, but unless you have huge ones or a plague of small ones everywhere they won't bother your skin.

[JonV88]

I'm so just let them be even if I have a lot??

[tektite]

They are detrivores, they'll eat what's available. Their population will go up and down with available food. Hence the reason my sump is packed with them from my clownfish's extra food, but I have non in my display tank as I feed very sparingly up there.