Help Identify

[zibnata]

WHAT the heck is this thing ?

 

[ekclark]

Looks to me like a bristleworm. They have a bad reputation, but most now feel they are a valuable part of any reef system. They'll live off extra food and help keep things clean. I don't have one, but I'd pay money if a store ever sold them.

 

[zibnata]

Thanks for the good news,this thing is grossing us out.I have been dealing with ich,cloudy eye,and just got the last fish out of tank after tearing apart tank TWICE and put them in to QT and this thing rears out its ugly head. Thanks

 

[bdhough]

does he have spikes on his sides? If no he's not a bristle worm. Some other sort of worm though. Either way he's beneficial unless he gets very very big.
You have a very adventurous bristle worm at that if it is one. They usually don't come so much from their hole in full light.....

 

[zibnata]

Oh good ,out of all of bristlewormdom I get the adventurous one.

 

[michaeltx]

thats typical of bristle worms to come all the way out of their holes and scavenge the entire tank looking for food. . the ones that normally dont are peanut and spagette worms (there are others though) that will never come all the way out of their holes just part way to eat then back in .
MIke

 

[zibnata]

Yes it does have spikes on its sides. So I shouldnt worry about it then ? Thanks

 

[therock0861]

It should be fine unless it gets too big. Be careful when moving rocks around though they can sting people too. If he gets real big you might want to remove him. HTH

 

[zibnata]

How do you catch them ? It seems to go back into the rock real fast.

 

[zibnata]

Last night I saw this thing come out of the rock and I noticed it seemed thinner,but I assume it was the other end because it started shooting out pellet like things like a machine gun. Could it be babies or just poop ? Tough question but you guys seem to know alot. Thanks

 

[aarone]

maybe poop? why do you want to catch it? I remembered when i only saw one bristle in a night....i looked in my tank last night (2 weeks later) and saw 7!!!
aaron

 

[therock0861]

I agree don't remove it unless it get's too large. They sell bristle worm traps on this site and others in fact there may be people in your area that would take them off of your hands. They are reef safe and are beneficial to the eco-system of your aquarium but be aware like I said before they can sting you. HTH

 

[zibnata]

You guys talked me into keeping it. Thanks