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#1
07/05/2007, 10:52 PM
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Can someone id this worm?
I have several of them, and they get pretty big. I saw a pic in reef invertebrates (by fenner and calfo) that id'd it as a fireworm. When I looked further on the internet, I saw many pics like this, but they were just described as a common bristleworm.
What's most important, will they harm fish or corals in my tank? Thanks. 
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Jen "A life without ecstasy is not true life, and not worth living." --Eliot Cowan |
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#2
07/05/2007, 11:28 PM
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I'd say a bristle worm too..............http://www.melevsreef.com/id/crawls.html
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#4
07/06/2007, 09:21 AM
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not only is that a fireworm it looks like a Hermodice carunculata which is a known coral muncher. if so, you dont want him in the tank. also be careful handling him, as they can pack a painful sting.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/short.htm you may want to PM LeslieH just to double check the species.
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Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! |
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#5
07/06/2007, 09:43 AM
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Its a fireworm. Ive had a couple before. They're not harmful at all, probably good for your tank actually.
About 5 years back when I initially setup my FOWLR tank my mother spotted on of these in the tank and cried out in horror. She made me take it out cause it was too ugly. About a 4-5 months later I found another worm. This one larger than the last; it was about 3-4 feet in length. At that size I wondered how much food it consumed, but I never could attribute any ill effects directly to the worm. Finally about 6 months after that I pulled out the last worm. Since then Ive changed the tank around (particularly removed the sandbed) and I never seen another worm in the tank again. I think they thrive in nice deep sandbeds. They seem reef friendly, but can take up valuable bioload in your fixed sized aquarium....which is why I think they're bad.
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A good aquarium is like a beautiful woman. Shes nice to look at but requires daily attention and constantly leaves you broke. |
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#6
07/06/2007, 12:58 PM
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Thanks for the help. I have several that have been in there for years. My jawfish mysteriously dissapeared (A couple of years ago) and my husband is convinced one of these giant worms ate him! I am upgrading my tank this weekend, and know where a couple more live, so was wondering if I should evacuate them! My yellow watchman goby seems a little wary of them, but not particularly scared, so I really wasn't sure. I grabbed this worm when he was agitating my freshly molted anemone crab!
Anybody else with additional advise or info would be greatly appreciated!
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Jen "A life without ecstasy is not true life, and not worth living." --Eliot Cowan |
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#7
07/06/2007, 05:33 PM
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All polychaetes are bristle worms. Amphinomidae is a family of polychaetes that include the fireworms. Not all amphinomids are fireworms, just some of the large ones.
Gotta disagree with you Paintbug, sorry.  That grayish pink color & reduced caruncle on the head suggest to me that it's Eurythoe complanata. Its spines pack just as much a wallop as those of Hermodice but it's relatively harmless to anything but detritus & dying/dead animals.
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Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County |
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#8
07/06/2007, 06:50 PM
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Quote:
 thats why you are the expert, and why i said ask Leslie
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Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! |
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