What is THIS!!!

[Gregsf66]

Saw about 10 of these guys crawling around the tank this morning. What is it, and do I need to dispose of it.

The fuzzy worm is red on either side and black in the middle and it is a little bit off center from the pick. Let me know if you cannot find it.

[Noodle]

Bristleworm, good thing, excellent scavengers & detrivours that will clean up uneaten foods, ect.

[caferacermike]

Oh and don't touch them. Use tweezers, extra heavy gloves, tongs etc... I've never been hit with one but rumor is it hurts like a wasp sting or more.

[klondike4001]

good for tanks, some fish will eat them.

[KyleV]

When I redid my rockwork about a month ago I got nailed by a huge one. It swelled my thumb up 2X the normal size and took 3 days for the pain to go completely away.

[Ram_Puppy]

wait, are you guys talking about fireworms?

i have had bristleworms touch me before, and at worst it felt like i had put my hand in some fiberglass insulation... (itty bitty needles) and the discomfort (wouldn't really call it pain) didn't last but maybe 1 hour or so...

a bearded fireworm on the other hand, that sounds more like what kyle and mike are talking about, those you do need to be extra careful w/.

don't touch any of them, but don't fear them either.

btw, that is just a common bristle worm, not a bearded fire worm.