Saltwater Centipede

[purple urchin]

I have a 45 hex reef tank and noticed tonight that I have this half pink half purple spiny worm or centipede thing. I tried to pull it out, but it was super fast, does anyone have any experience with worms or centipedes? I havent added any new rock to my tank for about 8months and all was cured prior to putting in.

 

[meowzer]

Look up bristleworm......they actually are good to have..they eat detrius and stuff like that
Just DO NOT touch it..they sting
Here's A pic of one
Attachment 238862

 

[hunt]

I completly agree with meowzer
also you probably had the worms since you bought the rock and just noticed them. They eat rotting flesh and fish food(alot of the things you dont want sitting in your tank) Just look before you touch something and you wont get stung.

 

[sargeboy]

i found one in my tank buried in the flesh of a clam i had but in for my fish and it creeped me out and i wanted it out before it grew to be 12inches. i saw it one night and i turned the lights and it went under the rock so i couldnt get it but the next night i saw him even bigger after eating part of the clam and i snuck up on him with a turkey baster and sucked him up. after doing serious research most of the sites i visited said they get to big to quick and can do serious damage to a reef because they eat anything

 

[meowzer]

You may have had a different type.....most do not turn into creatures....lol...although I guess some can get big
Mine never seem to get very large (thanks goodness)

 

[pezenfuego]

To be fair guys, "bristleworm" describes thousands of species. Of these species coco worms and feather dusters are included.
Most are okay unless they grow too large. Caribbean fire worms for example are a terror to touch.

 

[hunt]

Originally Posted by PEZenfuego
http:///forum/post/3232913
To be fair guys, "bristleworm" describes thousands of species. Of these species coco worms and feather dusters are included.
Most are okay unless they grow too large. Caribbean fire worms for example are a terror to touch.
But when you say bristle worm, wich one comes to mind(most of the time)

 

[kanicky]

I've been a part of the reef community for three years now, and always thought Bristleworms were beneficial to a tank as part of the CUC. However, my boyfriend saw CoraLife's Bristleworm trap that says Bristleworms can eat corals... Is this true? He's really worried now and wants me to make sure.

 

[meowzer]

There are so many types..as stated above. Your standard everyday bristleworm is okay.....
google bristleworms, and do some research on all the types....most that you will see, you won't see in our tanks....(hopefully)

 

[loren99999]

This is so weird, I found one of these in my tank, tonight, too.
I have spotted hot pink centipede like things before, but much smaller. Tonight this one was on the front glass, close to my common anemone.

 

[meowzer]

lol...that is also a "common" bristleworm

 

[paul anonymous]

I agree with everyone Do Not Touch these things. they will sting u and maybe even enough to cut ur finger a little. And the best way to get rid of these little creatures are to purchase you a Coral Banded Crab. Coral Banded Crab love these things. I've seen mine Banded Crab eat these things and are Great in finding them Anywhere in your tank. They have no struggle in finding them a tasty meal.

 

[saxman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///t/374129/saltwater-centipede#post_3236779
lol...that is also a "common" bristleworm
Hi Lois!
At first glance, I was tempted to ID that critter as a Dorvilleid, but the head is wrong, so I agree...it's a Eurythoe sp. BW.
purple urchin,
The worm in your first photo is a Caribbean fireworm (Eurythoe complanata), which are a bit "worse" than "common" BWs, but still not really bad. BWs are actually great free members of your CUC (I've even seen them eating red Cyano), and we don't really pay them much heed in our systems. We actually add them to new setups sometimes.
To be honest, if you don't play with them, you'll likely never have any trouble. It took me 15 years before I finally got popped by a Caribbean when I was moving LR out of a tank. I put my finger into a little dish of vinegar, and the spines were gone (dissolved) within 5-10 mins.
Another thing to remember is that if you notice a BW bloom in your tank, it's likely because there is a lot of uneaten food in the tank. Cut back on the food, and they'll die back to a manageable level.
In the future, here's a pictorial hitchhiker ID guide to help you out:
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml

 

[meowzer]

LOL...where did this thread come from.....the past.....I was looking at this like....I did not post that....and then I saw it was from 2010

 

[snakeblitz33]

I love the title of this thread... Centipede... lol. I guess if you have to use vocabulary that you know, centipede is an ok term to use. Millipede maybe better because of the two pairs of legs per segment... but bristle worms actually belong to the class polychaeta - which are made up of marine worms with "many bristles."
I was popped once with a fireworm not too long ago. The big guy didn't live through the night through. It's good to know about the vinegar, I never would have put the two together. I'm glad you told that tidbit of information, sax! Makes a whole lot of sense now!

 

[saxman]

Here's my finger "before" the vinegar treatment...of COURSE, Renee was hollering "Wait till I get my camera!" LOL