Is this a bristleworm?

[littlefoxx]

So I found this guy chilling in the middle of my tank in broad daylight. Is it a bristleworm? For some reason it just looks weird to me and not like the ones Ive seen

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

That looks like a fireworm to me… but I am far from being an expert on marine worm ID.

 

[CoralB]

Fireworm , Not one to keep

 

[Miami Reef]

This made me shudder. Those spines are disgusting.

 

[littlefoxx]

Oh great. That explains why my melenarus wrasse injured his mouth

 

[Slocke]

Get a dragon wrasse. Mine loves hunting down and eating bristleworms. I doubt fireworms will phase it.

 

[w8lifts]

Get a dragon wrasse. Mine loves hunting down and eating bristleworms. I doubt fireworms will phase it.

Didn’t think they reef safe with a cuc

 

[littlefoxx]

Get a dragon wrasse. Mine loves hunting down and eating bristleworms. I doubt fireworms will phase it.

This is in my 70 gallon with the mel. I think he got stung, see two bristles and he has been swimming with his mouth open for a few days. Thought it was a bristleworm issue until I found this nasty guy. Will the mel heal on his own?

 

[Slocke]

This is in my 70 gallon with the mel. I think he got stung, see two bristles and he has been swimming with his mouth open for a few days. Thought it was a bristleworm issue until I found this nasty guy. Will the mel heal on his own?

Yes
Common thing to happen in the wild

 

[CoralB]

This is in my 70 gallon with the mel. I think he got stung, see two bristles and he has been swimming with his mouth open for a few days. Thought it was a bristleworm issue until I found this nasty guy. Will the mel heal on his own?

As long as there no infection, catch him and remove the bristles also check as see if he has a bristle in his mouth that you could remove .

 

[Slocke]

Didn’t think they reef safe with a cuc

Yep but totally worth it in my opinion

She did tell me she was looking for a predatory wrasse in another thread.

 

[CoralB]

Yep but totally worth it in my opinion

She did tell me she was looking for a predatory wrasse in another thread.

That wrasse might be worth setting up another tank just to have one . They are cool as S- - t

 

[littlefoxx]

Yep but totally worth it in my opinion

She did tell me she was looking for a predatory wrasse in another thread.

Yes for my 125, also to keep the worms in check in that tank! Thats why I have the mel in my 70! Looking into a few of them you recommended to see who would work best for that set up! And yeah not worried about clean up crew, stocked fish to help with the cleaning. Looking at either the red coris or dragon you suggested!

 

[littlefoxx]

As long as there no infection, catch him and remove the bristles also check as see if he has a bristle in his mouth that you could remove .

Thats the issue, I wont be able to catch him in this tank. Rocks are pretty intricate and Ive got corals so I cant remove rocks. Plus I have venomous fish in there that would be hard to manuver around for the wrasse as quick as he is! Dosing food with kanaplex currently to make sure it doesnt get infected!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not sure this is a fireworm , but a way to tell is its end known as cetae will look like this if fireworm

 

[littlefoxx]

Not sure this is a fireworm , but a way to tell is its end known as cetae will look like this if fireworm

Yes it does have that, just compared to the picture!

 

[littlefoxx]

Yes it does have that, just compared to the picture!

I accidentally pinched it a little too hard when looking so it kinda got decapitated… but if it is a fireworm maybe not a bad accident!

 

[littlefoxx]

@Slocke where did you get your dragon wrasse? And is it aggressive?

 

[Slocke]

@Slocke where did you get your dragon wrasse? And is it aggressive?

From my lfs but try here https://reefexclusive.top/fishes/dragon-wrasse-novaculichthys-taeniourus

Mine does not like it when other fish mess with it while it’s digging for worms but otherwise pretty peaceful. I’d not have that be it’s permanent home but as a small one should be good.

 

[littlefoxx]

Best video could get of my wrasse. Hard to see but I see two bristles on the corners of his mouth. Now Im worried knowing this was a fireworm and not a regular bristle worm like I thought!



@vetteguy53081