Fire worm??

dx7fd2 · 01-05-2005, 03:18 PM

Enclosed is a pic of a worm... should I trap this bristle or let him eat cake (detritus to us)? It's about 3 inches long and so far hasn't been causing any ruckus...

Craig Manoukian · 01-05-2005, 04:46 PM

At a Seabay meeting in November 2003, Anthony Calfo said that the vast majority of polycheates, worms, are reef safe. I think you are OK as long as you use gloves when you are maintaining your tank.

Bruce · 01-05-2005, 05:23 PM

yes i am very sure that that is a reef safe wormy and well the fact is great for a reef tank...the one u need to look out for is called the bearded fireworm with basically looks like that but the red and white colors r opposite and it is more bushy...i cant find a good pick but it is much more red and white bushy parts

Birdlady · 01-05-2005, 05:40 PM

I have a boatload of those in my tank...never bother anything

OoNickoC · 01-05-2005, 07:11 PM

I like my Poly worms....until they get big enough to eat fish....

But that takes afew years. THe store i work at just moved 2 doors down about 4 months ago....after i dissassembled the reef flat i found 2 big ones (over a foot) and a HUGE one that was about 3'. Gave it to my mariene bio professor. I like them in my tank.

Craig Manoukian · 01-06-2005, 01:06 AM

SS,

What kind of worm awas it?

dx7fd2 · 01-06-2005, 01:48 AM

My GF is worm prejudiced..."ewww!!! what is that ugly thing?!!"

&quot

on't put your hands in the tank dear!!"

I thought that maybe it was a good guy to have after I watched him clean up a bunch of crud around some rock base inside sort of a cave area. Thanks for the input, as usual you all are terrific!! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif] If I see the worm getting too big (down the line a piece) I'll reconsider trapping it. There are others in the tank but they are all little bitty. This one must have come in on the rock I got from Florida (2 pieces) several months back because most of the rock I'm using I made.

Drew

OoNickoC · 01-08-2005, 02:45 AM

I am not too sure...looked all to fireworm but lacked the color...was an overall tanish green. The "bristles" were densly clustered at each segment like the actual bearded fireworms all are so afraid of but lacked the color. I never found the head as i think it was severed when we rmoved the lr. The smaller 2 were all tan with less dense bristles inbetween segements. My professor is yet to sit down and id them. If i can track him down this coming semester ill see if i can take some pics of it and post em.

Craig Manoukian · 01-08-2005, 06:09 AM

Can you find it here SS?

http://www.reefimages.com/Worms/Worms.htm * *

OoNickoC · 01-08-2005, 07:52 PM

I was actually looking through some books at work and i think i found it (forgot the name) Ill get a pic of the book and a species on it for you. Really ugly thing.