Worms - Bristle, I think?

[billb]

I turned a rock over on the bottom of my tank and found these...probably about 5 or 6 in the whole group. I think they are bristle worms. Are they really something to worry about? I have heard only a few types, out of the many are harmful. If I do need to get rid of them, what is the best method?
thanks,
Bill

 

[bigarn]

The last 2 appear to be ordinary bristleworms ..... I'm not sure about the first pic though. It may be a fireworm variety or maybe not. Bang and sweetreef are good with IDing these critters.

 

[larrynews]

yep looks like bristleworms to me

 

[billb]

Fine....thanks for the answers...think i'll just leave em alone....I haven't read anything real bad about em...

 

[bang guy]

Yep. Commonly found species of Bristleworms. Beneficial detrivores.
If you ever get an excess of those Zoas in the last picture please let me know

 

[tthemadd1]

I was at the store getting some stuff and the owner got stung by a big Bristleworm. I couldnt help but laugh. Then he charged me a higher price. JK. Really stung him though.
He was saying that they eat other things with toxins and then store up those toxins... Is that true?

 

[bigarn]

Never heard of that.... They don't actually sting, it's the bristles you can get stuck with that cause the pain.

 

[tthemadd1]

Right right... I think I knew that...
I guess you really cant trust the LFS.....

I put one in my tank with a piece of LF and havent seen him/her since....
I love this hobby...
Themadd1

 

[bang guy]

Nudibranch often store toxins from things they eat but I havn't heard of that behavior in Bristleworms.
Many Bristleworms do have venom in the bristles so getting tagged can cause trouble if you're allergic.

 

[kimber27]

I was at the lfs today and in one of their nfs tank displays there were the hugest worms I've ever seen in person. :scared: They were at least 12 inches long and a what appeared to be a huge colony of them just crawling all around right out in the open - is that normal? I'm guessing the tank has been up for years and years by the size if the corals and fish in there but will they get that big in my tank too? Geez I hope not! :thinking:

 

[bang guy]

They might if there's food available.

 

[billb]

Hey Kimber,
Google - Steve Weast Oregon Reef, and look for worm incident...he found a 7 footer