Bristol Worms vs Fireworms

[jrpage]

Are they the same? I seem to have hundreds in my tank lately. Seem harmless enough, but would they do me some damage if I inadvertantly touched one while cleaning and reorganizing my tank?
They are light pink in color and have a caterpiller look to them.
Thanks
Rhonda

 

[bigarn]

They're bristleworms.... good cleanup crew members. If you rub your hand on one accidently you can get stuck with the bristles. From what I hear, it can be painful or irritateing.

 

[bang guy]

There are at least two schools of thought with the Fireworm vs Bristleworm. That's the problem with common names, there's no concensus.
1 - Fireworms are a specific colorful Specie of Carribean Polychaete named Hermodice carunculata that eats soft corals such as Xenia, Gorgonia, and mushrooms.
2 - Fireworms are the type of Polychaete that have rows of either Calcarious or Silica spines for protection.
I belong to group #2.

 

[jrpage]

Originally posted by Bang Guy
There are at least two schools of thought with the Fireworm vs Bristleworm. That's the problem with common names, there's no concensus.
1 - Fireworms are a specific colorful Specie of Carribean Polychaete named Hermodice carunculata that eats soft corals such as Xenia, Gorgonia, and mushrooms.
2 - Fireworms are the type of Polychaete that have rows of either Calcarious or Silica spines for protection.
I belong to group #2.
I think I'm scared...ha ha
I have mushrooms in my tank but not the others mentioned. What would be telltale signs of them "eating" my shrooms?
Rhonda

 

[bang guy]

fewer shrooms

 

[jrpage]

sigh
I sooo used to trust you for help.
So, I'll just come in one night and they'll be sauteing my corals as a sidedish?
What I mean is, will my shrooms start to look stressed or discolored? What should I watch for?

 

[bang guy]

The (rare) Bristleworm that can eat a Mushroom would actually slurp significant portions of a single mushroom each time it fed. A large one could conceivably eat a few in a single night.
So, what you would notice is fewer mushrooms.