Fireworm or bristle worm ID

[theswiftduck]

Can someone help me ID this dude? I am transferring coral to my new tank and found these guys inside of my Exosphere zoanthid rock. One of them looked like it shot something at me. There’s a bigger one but couldn’t get him. Put the rock back into the old display until I can frag those zoanthids off of the rock and ordered an arrow crab. My wrasses won’t be out of QT until mid September.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

looks like a bristleworm to me

 

[theswiftduck]

looks like a bristleworm to me

How can you tell the difference between bristle worms and fire worms? Is it just coloration?

 

[BryanM]

I am no expert, but I personally would be worried that this is a fireworm.

 

[theswiftduck]

Found this YouTube video. Mine look more like the bristle worms than that fire worm.

Anyone else have any helpful input?

 

[theswiftduck]

Found this YouTube video. Mine look more like the bristle worms than that fire worm.

Anyone else have any helpful input?

 

[theswiftduck]

@vetteguy53081 you always seem to have the best advice when it comes to these topics. Would you mind weighing in? Fireworm or Bristleworm? I am thinking Bristleworm at this point but if they are fireworms I certainly do not want to move them to the new tank.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@ISpeakForTheSeas ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can someone help me ID this dude? I am transferring coral to my new tank and found these guys inside of my Exosphere zoanthid rock. One of them looked like it shot something at me. There’s a bigger one but couldn’t get him. Put the rock back into the old display until I can frag those zoanthids off of the rock and ordered an arrow crab. My wrasses won’t be out of QT until mid September.

This is a bristleworm , While some regard them as cleaners as they do eat uneaten food and detritus, Not welcomed in my tank as they grow large. Ive found 12-14" ones in the past but they harmless unless touched with bare fingers

 

[theswiftduck]

Can someone help me ID this dude? I am transferring coral to my new tank and found these guys inside of my Exosphere zoanthid rock. One of them looked like it shot something at me. There’s a bigger one but couldn’t get him. Put the rock back into the old display until I can frag those zoanthids off of the rock and ordered an arrow crab. My wrasses won’t be out of QT until mid September.

This is a bristleworm , While some regard them as cleaners as they do eat uneaten food and detritus, Not welcomed in my tank as they grow large. Ive found 12-14" ones in the past but they harmless unless touched with bare fingers

Appreciate it sir! Got rid of my flat worms thanks to you! Used that siphon technique with panty hose on the end of the line. Took a few weeks and persistence but haven’t seen any in quite awhile!

 

[NyReefer]

This is a bristleworm , While some regard them as cleaners as they do eat uneaten food and detritus, Not welcomed in my tank as they grow large. Ive found 12-14" ones in the past but they harmless unless touched with bare fingers

I think they do more good than harm.
Agreed when you touch them you end up with a ton of "bristles" in your finger. But nothing a piece of duct tape can't handle pulling off.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

@ISpeakForTheSeas ?

I'm on my phone and can't see the worm in question, but for an easy way to tell if the OP has decent magnification options available, look for a caruncle (a little sensory organ on their head):

To verify if it has one, see the link below:

anyone know what a fireworm really looks like?

www.reef2reef.com