ID's?

[scratchman]

Was just wondering if anyone could help Id this critter? Is he bad or ok? He looks pretty cool but I don't want him eating my corals and multiplying if he's bad.

Also I have what I think to be sort of an algae outbreak starting on some of my rocks. At least I think it's some kind of algae. They look like little brown/green flaps of skin. Not too attractive so just wondering if it is some type of algae or something else I should be more worried about. Sorry for the bad pic. Thanks for the help.

Matt

 

[james734]

The first pics is a Bristle worm. Good/Bad not sure. How big is it?
The 2nd one I have no idea.

 

[Krish]

I sencod the bristle worm and have no clue on the second one either. I've also heard mixed things about the bristle worms, but I think they are good in the sense that they eat up detrtus and wastes but I could be wrong. Someone will have to chime in on that to confirm

 

[Boomer]

Worm is a fireworm or sure looks like one

http://images.google.com/images?q=fireworm&btnG=Search&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php

http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0697/0697_2.html


The red flaps remind me of red flat worms and you have lots of them. Need a better pic. Do they move ?

 

[Krish]

I think you may be right Boomer (usually are ) Here are 2 photos I took here in the wild of a bristle worm and a fire worm where you can see the actual differences

 

[scratchman]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Boomer, the red flaps don't move like animals but more like leafs in the current. Here's a better pic. And yeah they are kind of running amuck all over one side of my tank. Maybe not enough flow in that area? The plan is to try to suck as many of them up when I do a water change today.

 

[bradreef]

red flatworms. just get a sixline wrasse and improve the water quality and there will not be so many. They thrive on nutrients.

 

[Boomer]

Those are flat worms like I thought

 

[scratchman]

Awesome...thanks guys.

Matt

 

[Clownguy]

If you are looking for natural control for the flatworms other then a six line, the blue velvet nudibranchs devour them, but will fade after they are gone.

Chris

 

[morgan]

dont touch bristle worms they hurt have to watch out for them when turning over rocks the bristles are hard to get out but it u do get spiked just put sticky tape over the bristles and it will pull them off