Help ID these worms, please

[Mary Carmen]

Hi all,

Does anybody know if this is a bristle worm?
If not, what is it?

Thank you

 

[Paullawr]

Looks like bits of a fireworm. I wouldn't touch it either way

 

[curtisbenm]

^Agree

 

[KJ]

Bristleworm.

 

[Paullawr]

Bristleworm.

Yes I was leaning towards that only reason I thought fireworm is that it seems quite a deep red colour contrast whereas bristle tend to border on orange.

Either way I wouldn't put your hands on it.

 

[Paullawr]

Oh one other thing. Unless. You have tonnes of them I'd leave them be. Just be careful turning rocks over and wear gloves when handling rocks (goes without saying).

They are good CUC.

 

[KJ]

Yes I was leaning towards that only reason I thought fireworm is that it seems quite a deep red colour contrast whereas bristle tend to border on orange.

Either way I wouldn't put your hands on it.

I'm get a little bit confusing some times to

 

[Mary Carmen]

Thank you! one more thing, the rock they came on spent a night in a very cold garage {probably 35F}. Courtesy of the last NorthEastern storm that just hit New England. I wonder if the worms look so red because they couldn't stand the cold temp. Let me know if this is a possibility. I ready dislike worms so I will be super happy to learn that I might have killed them (sorry in advance for that).

 

[curtisbenm]

I would be surprised if anything would kill bristle worms. I soaked bristle worm infested live rock in a bucket of bleach for a week. They lived. Resilient

 

[TheAquarian]

Freshwater kills them.

 

[Paullawr]

Honestly they are OK. Only become a problem if you're overfeeding tank and they multiply. For that there are worm traps.

Watch out for worms which are black and look almost like a sea millipede for choice of better descriptions. Don't handle and see advice on removal.

As for Bristleworms they can sting on touch but are usually fairly shy and none aggressive and snack on uneaten food.

 

[Mary Carmen]

ok!
Thank you