bristle or fire worms

[sandi]

could someone please post a picture of a fire worm or bristle worm I believe I have on in my tank. Are they that harmfull..............thank you sandi

 

[jetaero]

Here is a nice blue spot bristle worm... Very common in reef aquariums. If you touch it, the bristles will break off in you, and cause some irritation. Other than that, I believe they are beneficial to your sand bed.

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/img/faq_bristle.jpg

-Josh-

 

[Krish]

Here are a few wild ones I took pictures of here in the Bahamas

 

[sandi]

thank you for your help you guys Iam sure that it is the picture that krish75 sent I think ill let the little critter be it might even help my tank and sand.............thanks again....... (scott from the tri-cities)

 

[MarineTeng]

i picked up one of those unexpectly and carried it around, is it weird if i got no needles or reactions
jetearo - that's the exact worm that i had...

 

[wrightme43]

i picked up one of those unexpectly and carried it around, is it weird if i got no needles or reactions
jetearo - that's the exact worm that i had...

I dont guess so. It probley didnt leave any bristles in your skin or your not sensitised to it. When they get me, my fingers swell up huge, and wont bend, then itch and burn for a few days, then the skin cracks and bleeds. I am really not a big fan of them. They are fine to have, I just try real hard not to touch them anymore.

 

[Sk8r]

The bristleworms from the Pacific are harmless detrivores, although they can get scarily large. The small bristleworms from the Caribbean that made into the fish trade in the '90's in the southern states are harmful to corals: I think people are now trying to distinguish between the two and have started calling this latter type 'fireworms.' Back in the '90's we just called 'em 'bristleworms'.