Please help ID worm

SM6 · 04/16/2014, 10:11 PM

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I found this guy coming out of my Favite coral 30 mins after I turned off the lights. I saw it the other night and thought it was the favite's tentacles at night. Mine has been loosing cell tissue so I have tried feeding it while it's tentacles are out. I thought this thing was its tentacle but it crawled out from a hole in the favite's side and onto the rock.

What type or worm is it? Is it bad for the tank? I sucked him out with a turkey baster. Makes me think twice about touching my live rock with my bare hands :/

SM6 · 04/16/2014, 10:15 PM

image.jpg

Here is a better picture.

Sugar Magnolia · 04/17/2014, 05:02 AM

It's a harmless bristleworm.

Sgt Jonny Cat · 04/17/2014, 08:28 AM

Bristle worm they are good cleaners but I read here that they multiply like crazy so I took mine out just in case...

Sugar Magnolia · 04/17/2014, 08:41 AM

They only multiply like crazy if there is an abundant food source. Their numbers are self regulating by the availability of food.

snorvich · 04/17/2014, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

They only multiply like crazy if there is an abundant food source. Their numbers are self regulating by the availability of food.

And if there is extra food, then you may be feeding your tank too much. Bristle worms are a valued member of the cleanup crew.

SM6 · 04/17/2014, 11:42 AM

Alright. Thanks for the responses!

04/16/2014, 10:11 PM	#1
SM6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 82	Please help ID worm image.jpg I found this guy coming out of my Favite coral 30 mins after I turned off the lights. I saw it the other night and thought it was the favite's tentacles at night. Mine has been loosing cell tissue so I have tried feeding it while it's tentacles are out. I thought this thing was its tentacle but it crawled out from a hole in the favite's side and onto the rock. What type or worm is it? Is it bad for the tank? I sucked him out with a turkey baster. Makes me think twice about touching my live rock with my bare hands :/

04/17/2014, 05:02 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	It's a harmless bristleworm. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/17/2014, 08:41 AM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	They only multiply like crazy if there is an abundant food source. Their numbers are self regulating by the availability of food. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/16/2014, 10:15 PM	#2
SM6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 82	image.jpg Here is a better picture.

04/17/2014, 08:28 AM	#4
Sgt Jonny Cat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: North of Boston Ma. Posts: 685	Bristle worm they are good cleaners but I read here that they multiply like crazy so I took mine out just in case...

04/17/2014, 11:42 AM	#7
SM6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 82	Alright. Thanks for the responses!