Some kind of bristle worm thing

[UninformedKitty]

Back at Christmas time when my dad's tank was still pretty new, I found this one little wormy thing, and I wasn't sure what it was. But on Easter weekend, I found that there are now a ton of them living in the substrate (with a million other things that are beneficial, I think he overfeeds). So I did some research and I think they're bearded fireworms (from comparing pictures). Problem is that I can't find any info on how much of a danger they could be to the tank. There's no living coral, so I'm not worried about them eating that (which I've heard they do), but I have read about at least some kinds of worms attacking fish in their sleep and even burrowing their way into shelled things. I've also heard about their little spiny things being able to float around in the water and sting things even if the worms aren't touched. But I don't really know anything about salt water tanks. They're too high maintenance for me (I'm lazy).

I took the best picture of them as I could. The pink part of the larger one is about the same color that they actually are, and the dark parts on them are organs and/or food inside them. They're clearish, like baby earthworms. The white leg-things are furry, not solid, which is why I figure they're bearded fireworms.

So should I tell him to leave them alone or to get rid of them? I've already read how to make traps for them, but if you think they're a pest, I could use some ideas for bait. I can't recall what the sites I read said about that.

Thanks in advance. My dad already lost all his fish but one to a mysterious fish disease (at least that's what he said, who knows?), and I would hate for him to lose anything else.

[Letmegrow]

Bristle worm, perfectly harmless and benificial even.

[LeslieH]

These are in the same family as the bearded fireworms but they belong to a different genus & species. As LMG said, they're harmless & even beneficial since they're good detritus eaters.

[Sk8r]

There's a really nice article in the first entry of Tridacna and Molluscs forum explaining that without worms, there are no corals. Read that one, before taking any action against the worms. You want the worms, trust us on this one. Fish poo is too big-particled for the corals; worms reduce it to coral-size.

[UninformedKitty]

Thank you so much. =^_^= That's really good to hear.

[graveyardworm]

Here's a link to an article with alittle info.

[jjmcat]

If you keep feedeing that little guy he will grow.

[captainek]

that bristleworm is HUGE

are you supposed to leave that sucker in there?

[psycho_clown]

Do some research on the subject of bristle worms, turns out they are beneficial