worms!!!!

[iamgoduraloser]

i just found a huge worm at least 8in.!! it w orangish red and larvae were every where. i believe it was a bristle worm. the larve were clear with a reddish tint and had an extremly brightren line down one side. i'm trying to learn all i can about it/wheather to get rid of it or not/how?

[FOSELONE]

that big...get rid of it...

[masonicman]

Yes get rid of it. I had one that was about 10 iches long and it murdered my maximum clam. I caught it with a bristle tap in 2 nights. I throw it in once a month at night for worm maintenance to be sure.

[greenbean36191]

8'' isn't that big and size has almost nothing to do with whether it's safe or not. Harmless species are harmless regardless of how big they get.

[NirvanaFan]

I've seen them 10+ inches in my tank. I completely agree with greenbean. Masonicman, the worm may have been cleaning up an already dead or dieing clam. It's what worms do.

[iamgoduraloser]

i think it's a fireworm.?? i was looking it up and it looks a lot like a fireworm.... the larva are everywhere!! does any one know if fireworms are harmful?

[Sk8r]

No. They're not. if the 'larvae' are tightly positioned with 'mama' and very thin it could be a spaghetti worm.

I loved my 4 10"-ers and lost them when I moved----wish we were closer; I'd happily take him off your hands. Mine are having a hard go against an infestation of mini-brittle stars.

[reefworm]

chances are the "murdered" clam was beginning to die back, and the fine-tuned scavenger senses of the worm picked up on it long before any symptoms of it were detectable to humans. it was simply doing it's job. guilt by association. If B follows A, it does not follow necessarily that A caused B.

have a read [thanks Bertoni]
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php

[iamgoduraloser]

thanks for the help!!

[reefworm]

Welcome to RC! Don't miss the article - I added it as an edit and noticed you had already responded.

[bertoni]

Most fireworms are fine to have, as the article states.