Need help ID on this hitchhiker

BrianGriff · Dec 23, 2015

So after doing extensive cleaning in my fluval m40 reef tank, I noticed something strange in my macro algae. I tried keeping an eye on them but they ended falling off somewhere in the tank. There is a small rock that held down the chunk. I looked at the rock and realized three more on it. I am concerned they are fireworms. They have spiky/fluffy white looking sides, red bodies and more towards the middle it is a blueish-purple color. I tried taking pictures of them.

BrianGriff · Dec 23, 2015

Im sorry, didnt mean to spam 3 threads, 2 of which are blank, how do i delete them?

twilliard · Dec 23, 2015

@Lionfish Lair

What do you think?
I cant see it clear enough to ID

reef lover · Dec 23, 2015

looks like common bristle worm good clean up crew

Bensadork · Dec 23, 2015

now that you mention it, that does look a lot like a bristleworm. get use to seeing them! They are very good for the tank. Good for clean up crew. good at removing unwanted detritus especially from inside deep cracks and holes in the rocks. If they get too big, you can always get an arrow crab. Arrow crabs look pretty gnarly and will mow through a whole herd of bristleworms in no time. But for now, I would leave them all be.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 23, 2015

+1 on the bristleworm.

BrianGriff · Dec 23, 2015

Well that's a relief. I was just concerned that it might be a fireworm, or an unwanted bristleworm, from a few people say that if they are more red, it can be a concern. Just want to make sure that my dragonface pipefish will be fine, since he likes to just slide across the rocks and bottom.

twilliard · Dec 23, 2015

Lionfish Lair said:
+1 on the bristleworm.

Thank you!

Lionfish Lair · Dec 24, 2015

BrianGriff said:
Well that's a relief. I was just concerned that it might be a fireworm, or an unwanted bristleworm, from a few people say that if they are more red, it can be a concern.

I mean no offense to anyone who said it, but how red a bristleworm is, is not an indicator at all whether or not they should be a concern.