FIREworm? Or large bristle?

[BristleWormHater]

The link you provided shows this photo:

That looks just like the worm in my first photo. Please understand that the contrast on this image you linked is turned up WAYYY high. If you take that into account, it looks exactly the same.

I dont think the contrast is adjusted on this image, it looks like a good picture of a bearded fireworm.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Both of these came from my tank. The one on the left is a mature bristle worm. Notice the typical blue stripe in the middle. Notice how it has white tufts, but not distinct bright red tufts? The one on the right is the suspected fire worm. notice how it has bright red tufts. notice how it does not have the blue stripe through the middle. notice how it has very distinct segmentation. The one on the right looks like pretty much every photo I've seen of a bearded fireworm. This is in RODI water, and it's coloration is already very pale compared to when it was first pulled out.

The coloration looks pretty similar to the first pic you posted, neither are dark enough to be a bearded fireworm imo.
@ISpeakForTheSeas may have more input
This thread is a good representation of one in a reef tank

Is This a Bearded Fireworm?

I pulled this guy out of my tank yesterday. Is he a Bearded Fireworm or another type of Fireworm? He is about 12"+ long and about one inch thick. For reference, the skimmer pipe in the photo is 1-1/2". He is carnivorous since I dropped a piece of scallop in his holding box....and he devoured...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[daikaijureefer]

@BristleWormHater I think you're right. The coloration is not dark enough. However, it does seem to be a pretty good match to the Orange Fireworm (Eurythoe complanata)
:

Eurythoe complanata | Taxonomy Browser | BOLDSYSTEMS

v3.boldsystems.org

I'd say it looks identical to the taxonomically identified photos of the orange fireworm in this link.

 

[BristleWormHater]

@BristleWormHater I think you're right. The coloration is not dark enough. However, it does seem to be a pretty good match to the Orange Fireworm (Eurythoe complanata)
:

Eurythoe complanata | Taxonomy Browser | BOLDSYSTEMS

v3.boldsystems.org

I'd say it looks identical to the taxonomically identified photos of the orange fireworm in this link.

Yes, and I think that leads us full circle since E. complanata seems to be the "common bristleworm"
Juveniles seem to have the same blue iridescent coloration.
Picture from the same link

Also, even if the tow are not the same, according to what I read online E. complanata is not a predator, its a detrivore, so reef safe. I wouldnt be concerned if you saw more in your tank.

 

[Fishy888]

I have had these in my system for ages. Not a single problem or mystery disappearance. You don’t have a fireworm. Not even close.

 

[Turnage]

Eeehhhh....if I had to guess I would say fire worm. My LFS has one in a 30g tank and it looks like the under belly of that fire worm.

125K views · 713 reactions | This fire worm is massive. A friend brought us this today. Went in with our hellfire anemone. Always fun having pest tank!! | Cuttle Fish and Corals

This fire worm is massive. A friend brought us this today. Went in with our hellfire anemone. Always fun having pest tank!!

www.facebook.com

But again...just a guess.

 

[winxp_man]

These worms when retracted can fool anyone into thinking fireworm. Also they get massive and attack fish dead on. I had a 5” bristle in a QT with a goby and a pistol shrimp. And not a tug on anything aside from fish poop and food I would drop in.

Fireworms get up to 12” and will eat fish right off the bat, or will attempted to. Have yet to see my 7” bristles go after anything aside from dead matter and algae floating around getting stuck in rocks. Also two rows of bristle legs and they almost look like fungal blooms haha.


Yours was a standard bristle not a fireworm. Technically fireworms are also bristles.

 

[Dr. Jim]

Here's a thread of mine from a long time ago, before I knew how dangerous are these worms (to SPS). This is DEFINITELY a Bearded Fire Worm. (He went on to kill about 30 SPS frags, 1 each night, before I figured out what was happening!)

BEARDED FIREWORM

I'm sure there have been plenty of posts about bristle worms but in case anybody has not seen a FIREWORM, this guy is pretty fascinating! I've had tons of bristleworms over my 50+ years of reefing but this is my first Fireworm....probably because I've never used Caribbean live rock until...

www.reef2reef.com

Florida Keys are notorious for harboring these guys. I found that 2cc Ivermectin 1% in 30 gallons (rock Q-tank; not Main tank) will stun these worms in about an hour or two so they come out of the rocks enabling them to be caught and removed. (It is possible that the babies may not, though, because I found some in a rock years later when I split the rock open). You can then do a 50-100% water change and spare all the "good" worms. Highly recommended for Keys rock!

 

[Dr. Jim]

EDIT: Removed double post

 

[winxp_man]

Here's a thread of mine from a long time ago, before I knew how dangerous are these worms (to SPS). This is DEFINITELY a Bearded Fire Worm. (He went on to kill about 30 SPS frags, 1 each night, before I figured out what was happening!)

BEARDED FIREWORM

I'm sure there have been plenty of posts about bristle worms but in case anybody has not seen a FIREWORM, this guy is pretty fascinating! I've had tons of bristleworms over my 50+ years of reefing but this is my first Fireworm....probably because I've never used Caribbean live rock until...

www.reef2reef.com

Florida Keys are notorious for harboring these guys. I found that 2cc Ivermectin 1% in 30 gallons (rock Q-tank; not Main tank) will stun these worms in about an hour or two so they come out of the rocks enabling them to be caught and removed. (It is possible that the babies may not, though, because I found some in a rock years later when I split the rock open). You can then do a 50-100% water change and spare all the "good" worms. Highly recommended for Keys rock!

The link you posted are two different worms. Yes that is a fireworm for sure. Bristle the good ones have one row of bristles. What we can see present in the ops post. What you posted shows the two rows of bristles. Good post though.