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View Full Version : Another ID Please

tomasga
04/13/2006, 10:50 PM
Can anyone tell me what this is? Is it reef safe? etc, etc....

<IMG SRC="http://machconstruction.com/tom/cat.jpg">


Thanks,

-Tom
fish_taste_good
04/13/2006, 10:55 PM
looks like a bristle worm

some people like them in their tank but others have had some grow extremely large
Nano_reeflover
04/13/2006, 10:55 PM
Looks like a bristle worm or a fire worm, although I dont know the difference between the two. Some have trouble with them, while others dont. I'm sure someone else will pipe up soon.
venwu225
04/14/2006, 02:02 AM
You should keep it in a species only tank and watch it grow. Looks like a Hermodice (aka Fire worm to me).

Any chance you can send it to me? I am located in Seattle WA.
wahwoo
04/14/2006, 05:13 AM
Its a bristle worm which are an essential part of your clean up crew. They are nocturnal and scavage the tank cleaning up detrius and left over food from your feedings.

Very few places sell them so they are sought after by many aquariests. Some tell beginners to get rid of them by giving the worms to them. Laughable and transparent as that may be it is usually stated as a joke. They get into our tanks as hitch hikers on live rock and coral bases. Even if you want to remove them, you will likely get more the next time you add rock or coral. They are reef safe, add to the health of your eco system and are harmless. Harmeless to the tank but not harmless to you. They have stinging bristles on them which give them the other name of Fire Worm. Dont touch them.
wahwoo
04/14/2006, 05:17 AM
Sorry venwu225. I didnt see your offer to help remove the worm at first. Why would you want a species only tank of Fire Worms? They are very light sensative and only come out from hiding at night. You would not see them often. Who wants a species only tank of worms?
LeslieH
04/14/2006, 09:33 AM
Venwu's right, it's a Hermodice. Unlike the other fireworms which are beneficial (although nasty to touch) this one eats corals.
rustybucket145
04/14/2006, 09:42 AM
Yeah, looks like a Hermodice to me. Leslie would probably know better than I though. Leslie, could you tell us what characteristics identify a bristleworm as a Hermodice coral eater? Are there identifiable appendages?
mtfatwork
04/14/2006, 10:13 AM
agreed fireworm
venwu225
04/14/2006, 12:20 PM
Yep, why the heck not have a tank of fireworms, they are fasinating animals, and I appreciate them.

Same question can be asked with any other animal that people keep captive. Anyways, anychance can shipping it to me? Seattle WA 98105
I will pay shipping of course
LeslieH
04/14/2006, 12:38 PM
Hermodice is one of the larger fireworms (I prefer the term fireworm but probably most reefers use the term bristleworm to refer to these), it's long & narrow, the body is normally a green or greenish-gray color, there are prominent red branchiae (the bushy structures) on each segment running down the sides of the body, and most importantly, there's a conspicuous sense organ on the anterior end. It's not very noticeable in Tomasga's picture but easy to see in the picture at
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/4171/hermiodice.jpg
The other fireworms that occur in tanks don't have the same elaborate sense organ & the branchiae aren't as obvious.
tomasga
04/14/2006, 04:59 PM
Thanks all for your help,

Venwu, I am sorry as funny as it may sound, my wife's cat go ahold of it and it is no more. I think there is one more in my tank. As soon as it re-appears I will pull it and shoot you a PM to send it to you.

-Tom
rustybucket145
04/16/2006, 02:20 PM
Leslie, they should make your explanation a sticky.