Live Rock and Hitchhicker/critter

AngelOfDeath

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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.
 
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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 KIND OF TANKMATE DYNAMIC STANDS OUT MOST IN YOUR REEF?

  • A fish pair or group that sticks together

    Votes: 3 30.0%
  • Some other kind of symbiotic pairing (fish & shrimp, crab and anemone, etc)

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • A cleaner shrimp or fish with regular clients

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • A fish that has adopted a coral or anemone

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • An unexpected friendship between different tankmates

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • A persistent rivalry or territorial feud

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No standout tankmate dynamic yet

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 1 10.0%
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