Worms? Good or Bad?

[braydonosu]

I purchased a bristle worm trap a week ago and have caught 3 of the suckers. When I looked into my tank last night under the moon lights, I noticed 3 or 4 white hair like 'things' stretching out of my LR, poking around for a second, and then retracting. They are a little thicker than a hair and extend about an inch away from their holes. Does anyone know what they are? Sorry they are too small and too quick to get a picture of.

 

[jtrzerocool]

sounds like a Spaghetti worm...google it...i dont have a pic...if that is a proper ID then then they are harmless...
also...bristle worms are beneficial to your tank too...they are detritus eaters...

 

[braydonosu]

I have always heard that bristle worms will eat corals?

 

[braydonosu]

As far as the spaghetti worm goes - there is only 1 'tenticle' that comes out of the hole in the rock. There may be 3 to 4 total, but they are spaced about an inch apart. Seems to me that if I had a spaghetti worm I would see a lot more tenticles.

 

[natclanwy]

Originally Posted by braydonosu
http:///forum/post/3012338
I have always heard that bristle worms will eat corals?
This is untrue, there are some species that will eat coral but they are not commonly found in the aquarium. 9 out of 10 bristle worms are benificial to your tank they help to cleanup uneaten food and dead critters.
I have the same hair like tenticles in my tank never have figured out what they are for sure, I know some of them are minature brittle stars but not all of them. They are benign to your tank inhabitants though.