Worm ID

[NameThatTuna]

Hey reefers, I’m bummed a beautiful and seemingly healthy mint massacre favia frag died overnight. I’ve had it since Christmas and it’s been growing quite quickly, then dead. Everything else in the tank is normal, nothing seems aggravated or ill. I sucked up the loose particles w a baster to avoid it whirling through the water, and this nasty worm came out of it before I could even grab the plug! It’s 1.5” long and I’m wondering if it could have killed the coral? Is it a nuisance??

 

[Crabs McJones]

Bristle worm

 

[ReefinItReal88]

^^ yess

 

[NameThatTuna]

Hey reefers, I’m bummed a beautiful and seemingly healthy mint massacre favia frag died overnight. I’ve had it since Christmas and it’s been growing quite quickly, then dead. Everything else in the tank is normal, nothing seems aggravated or ill. I sucked up the loose particles w a baster to avoid it whirling through the water, and this nasty worm came out of it before I could even grab the plug! It’s 1.5” long and I’m wondering if it could have killed the coral? Is it a nuisance??

Do you keep them?

 

[ReefinItReal88]

I usually leave them till they get huge, they eat detritus and waste

 

[Crabs McJones]

Do you keep them?

Absolutely. They are a vital part of your clean up crew. These guys will eat leftover food and detritus in your reef to stop it from breaking down into unwanted nutrients:)

 

[vetteguy53081]

I generally chuck the big ones but a few for me are ok

 

[NameThatTuna]

Thanks for the help. I know this is absurd, but it’s the first worm I’ve encountered, and my tank is over 5 yrs old! I’ll toss it back in and find him in 5 more years [emoji23]