6+ inch long bristle worm?

I've got a couple that big in my 75 g. Not the most attractive guys but still great members of the CUC. So if you don't mind looking at him I say let him be. If not, then lure him out with food or get him at night.

They get longer then that.  Oregon reefs  (org) had one that was 6-7 feet long and was eating zoos at night.

It is in the bristle worm family but it is not a regular good kind of bristle worm..it is a bobbit worm AKA Eunice worm. It eats coral. The two toned little worms are reef safe and desired but the long grey centipede looking ones are not.

I have had standard bristle worms that could stretch out 18 inches easily in my 65g I took a picture of it but I cant seem to find it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefkprZ 

I have had standard bristle worms that could stretch out 18 inches easily in my 65g I took a picture of it but I cant seem to find it.

Really??? Those two toned ones get that big? or  Do you have the big centipede looking ones???

I learn something new here all the time....I have taken my entire tank apart to get a worm out of a rock, but I was missing coral. A whole head off of a torch coral disappeared overnight. How do you tell the good guys from the bad ones?

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJBillyV 

I've got a couple that big in my 75 g. Not the most attractive guys but still great members of the CUC. So if you don't mind looking at him I say let him be. If not, then lure him out with food or get him at night.

+1

If you don't notice anything being actively destroyed then it's most likely a detritus/carrion consumer and beneficial.  Contrary to popular myth they don't change their diet when they get large.

There are only a few species that can eat coral.  The majority of them are irridescent with 5 antenna.  There is one noteable exception called the Bearded Fireworm - Hermodice carunculata.  I've never had one of these but they can eat coral.  The majority of other Fireworms cannot eat living tissue at all.

Here's one I kept to clean up my Clownfish growout tank.  It did an outstanding job.

LOL...I would have freaked out to see such a bristle worm.  You should make a sticky explaining safe and unsafe bristle worms w/pictures.

This is kinda funny, my wife and I have an ongoing battle over these guys, sort of like the leg lamp in Christmas Story. I like the little buggers but she finds them off-putting. So far though, I'm winning! I use the "If we bought a cute little puppy that grew up to be a not so hot looking dog, would you put him to sleep?" argument. Followed by "Don't be a hater!". Although, I'm sure accomodations will eventually have to be made.

I've seen people catch them by placing a sponge at the bottom of their tanks held down by a rock. Then in the middle of the day turn it over and they are all over the bottom sponge even weaved throughout it. May take sometime to get them to culture the sponge.

For a carrion consumer it's eazy.  Just wrap up a small piece of seafood in a short length of nylons overnight.

Unsafe:  Note the five antenna

Looks like a fine excuse to get an Arrow Crab to me! ;)