PLEASE HELP! What is this thing?!?

[btacker]

I guess this is a freeloader that came on Jim's live rock. I don't know what this thing is, but it is pretty scary looking.

I dropped in a piece of shrimp to see if anyone liked it. This worm like millipede looking thing came out from under a rock. I saw around 6" of it and there was more under the rock.

Sorry the pictures stink, but a crab came and ran him off. I was lucky to get these.

[DeletedAccount]

Just a bristle worm or something along that line. No biggie. Helps keep detritus off the bottom and stirs the sand bed.

[btacker]

Man that thing is huge though. :o

I really can't believe that worm is a good thing because it sure does look :twisted:


I just saw 2 more of them. Thinner and kinda red in color... but they were still really long.

[Nano_Steve]

how old is your system? u should have TONS of these things unless you have an arrow crab, six line wrasse, or copperband. there are other fish that will eat these also but..........um yeah, just saw the pic in your avatar, my guess is your sixline eats them up before you can see them :D

all in all this worm isnt a prob, its actually very beneficial to have these in the sand bed.

-steve

[matt]

Nice worm! You're lucky to have it; if you want to get rid of I'll definitely take it. I just paid big bucks at inland for 50 of these. Best detrivore you can get.

[btacker]

Thanks guys!

I have had the tank setup for 2 months now, and I haven't seen any of these worms yet. It was just a real suprise to me how big he was and the fact that I had not seen him yet. I have moon lights on the tank, and I have stayed up really late watching all the things move around, but when I threw that piece of shrimp in the tank, everything went crazy. I guess I need to do that more often...

I haven't had the wrasse long. Just got him from Tim last week. I hope he doesn't eat them all :) Do you think I should try to move some of these guys to my fuge so the wrasse won't get them? Will they multiply in the tank if left alone?

Thanks again..

Bryan

[wkopplin]

I have one that is over 15" long. Never hurts anything.

[brewercm]

Very good for your sand bed, just don't touch it with your bare hand or finger. Ouch!!!!!

[RobertG]

I would'nt worry about the wrasse eating them if they are that large. The little guys might not have a chance though.

[Nano_Steve]

i agree with robert. when i had a six line he only went after the smaller younger ones. now my cbb on the other hand, i ALWAYS saw him swimmin around with little "beard whiskers" cuz he just made lunch out of some bristleworm he found earlier. if u ever want bristleworms in your system DONT BUY A CBB! :P

-steve

[ChrisL]

i just found a red bristle worm in my tank...debating on whether to pull it out when i see it (not with my hands). How bad does it hurt if i accidently touch it? Should I keep it in the tank?

[::pete::]

Leave it there, I have hundreds. they are beneficial unless they get to un countable numbers. If you were to get poked its like a cactus and leaves its bristles in your finger. Easiest way to remove is elmers glue, pour it on - let it dry and peel.

[RobertG]

Pete sounds like a experienced glue peeler. That must suck! I have been lucky or just to chicken to mess with them. Before I knew waht they were worth I would pull them out & burn them. The bristles would burn like hair. They were Evil, I did'nt know.