Live Rock and Hitchhicker/critter

AngelOfDeath

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 25, 2026
Messages
18
Reaction score
26
Location
United States
What state or country do you live in
Arkansas
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello everyone... so I bought 25 lbs of live rocks and notice this worm crawling in the rocks!!! Is it beneficial or harmful for my reef tank? If it is harmful how do i get rid of it? Im on the 3rd day of cycling my tank. Any help/info will be greatly appreciated.
 
7df3dda9-bc57-44f4-81f8-bd32bc79f08c.jpg
 
Looks like a harmless Bristleworm type. It would not give me cause for concern.
 
To add some people like them as part of the clean up crew, others hate them. It’ll be near impossible to have a tank without them being somewhere (most people don’t bother with them in my experience).

With that said, if you do want to pluck them, be aware…use gloves. Those bristles stick into skin and can be quite irritating. Also, they easily “rip” and my understanding is they grow back if given the chance. Hope this helps!
 
To add some people like them as part of the clean up crew, others hate them. It’ll be near impossible to have a tank without them being somewhere (most people don’t bother with them in my experience).

With that said, if you do want to pluck them, be aware…use gloves. Those bristles stick into skin and can be quite irritating. Also, they easily “rip” and my understanding is they grow back if given the chance. Hope this helps!
I appreciate your info. Glad to know they be part of my clean up crew.
 
Check your tank sometime a few hours after dark with a flashlight and then you'll see all the creepy crawlies on your new rock.😆
 
Check your tank sometime a few hours after dark with a flashlight and then you'll see all the creepy crawlies on your new rock.😆
Oh yeah i know, i just found a tiny brittle starfish and a asterina starfish. Yesterday found a bumblebee snail amd a blueleg hermit crab.
 
Oh yeah i know, i just found a tiny brittle starfish and a asterina starfish. Yesterday found a bumblebee snail amd a blueleg hermit crab.
Sounds like you are getting a load of beneficial hitchhikers!
 

WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART OF REEFING TO EXPLAIN TO A NON-REEFER?

  • Why a tiny coral frag can cost that much

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Why I spend time testing and adjusting water

    Votes: 5 27.8%
  • Why the fish I want might not fit my tank

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Why I have buckets, tubing, and salt around the house

    Votes: 1 5.6%
  • Why corals are living animals, not decorations

    Votes: 6 33.3%
  • How much time and attention a reef takes

    Votes: 7 38.9%
  • The difference between freshwater and saltwater creatures

    Votes: 1 5.6%
  • I’ve stopped trying to explain

    Votes: 7 38.9%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new