Is this bad? Looks like a parasite...

[mattyams]

I'm not sure what this is or if it is a bad thing. But I saw it crawling around some live rock of mine last night. Looks like a worm with about 200 legs or so. This is my 20 gallon with no livestock (well maybe it does have livestock since this is in there...lol.)

If it is a bad thing...how can I get rid of it?

Here it is in the center:

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And here is a (blurry) closeup:

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creepy.

 

[clay4au]

looks like a bristle worm to me

 

[mattyams]

Good thing I have you guys around...I was a little freaked for a minute...well more like a few hours.

I have researched and it is written that it is kind of a toss up on whether they are good or bad.

 

[jennm]

They're good janitors. Let it be. If you end up with a ridiculous population of them, you're over-feeding.

Just one here or there - good.

Jenn

 

[picoreefguy]

im on the fence about them. on the one hand they eat leftover food (and some people say detritus as well but idk about that). but on the other hand they are ugly to look at and have the potential to sting you. ive been stung before and its not the worst thing in the world but its no fun either it took about 24 hours to recover.

 

[jennm]

They only sting when you touch them. Don't pet the worms

They eat leftover food, detritus and dead things. Better to have a deceased fish eaten by the worms before it decays and fouls the water if it happens before you discover it.

If you *really* feel the need to remove this valuable part of your ecosystem, Orchid Dottybacks eat them, many wrasses eat them, and arrow crabs eat them (although arrow crabs will also go after your fish...)

I'm a worm advocate... love thy worms.

Jenn

 

[rdnelson]

I agree with Jenn. A few are a good thing but if they start to get out of control it is a sure sign you are over feeding. With a yellow coris wrasse in my tank I never see them unless I move a rock.

 

[ripped tide]

I would avoid handling them if possible. I usually get a little sick if I get stung multiple times.


I got sick after moving a 210 on Thursday... Either palytoxin or bristle worms. Headache, nausea, shortness in breath, chest pains: no fun.

 

[jennm]

I'd say that was palytoxin, not bristleworms. Bristles just irritate the skin for the most part (fireworms pack a bit bigger punch but it's usually localized). I suppose if one is allergic that's another story but it's usually more of a skin reaction than a systemic one.

I've been bristled more times than I can count. Nothing more than a mild annoyance.

Jenn

 

[clay4au]

Ripped Tide;826265 wrote: I would avoid handling them if possible. I usually get a little sick if I get stung multiple times.


I got sick after moving a 210 on Thursday... Either palytoxin or bristle worms. Headache, nausea, shortness in breath, chest pains: no fun.

Sounds more like a hangover plus too much physical exertion to me lol

 

[ripped tide]

Clay4AU;826270 wrote: Sounds more like a hangover plus too much physical exertion to me lol

Bahahahahahaha! I've been working a lot more this season than I had in the past. Unfortunately work has been getting in the way of my drinking habit. Lol


I have always gotten a little ill after being stung by bristle worms. Unusually just get nausea and a headache.


Jenn, it is probably palytoxin(I'm fine now, btw ). Those nasty slimey green palys will get ya! After I discovered a small cut on my hand, I figured I would be in for a treat. It wasn't too bad. Wasn't too fun either.

 

[jennm]

Yeah those "mint palys" seem to be the culprit for a lot of people.

My ex-husband has poisoned himself a few times - usually limited to metal taste in his mouth and a numb lip for a few days LOL. He's never eaten enough to cause the "heart attack" symptoms. I daresay much has to do with the amount ingested and how it was ingested or how it gets into the bloodstream.

If I had a nickel for every bristleworm sting I've had, I'd retire quite comfortably

Jenn

 

[mattyams]

well good then. It is just not something you expect to see in a reef tank...especially for a n00b such as myself. Thanks for the humor and replies folks!

 

[picoreefguy]

JennM;826262 wrote: They only sting when you touch them. Don't pet the worms
Jenn

well what good is having a pet worm if i cant pet it? i mean my fish love it when i pet them sometimes i even take my mandarin and blue tang out of the tank put leashes on them and take them for walks :lol2: but in all seriousness i try to avoid touching them the only reason i got stung was because one was hiding in some zoanthids i was fragging. at first i thought it was palytoxin poisoning cause my middle finger had swollen but luckily after posting on here and talking to some fellow members i found out it was just a bristle worm sting and waited out the swelling.

 

[mattyams]

I cleaned bubble algae off one rock and didn't see that guy so I should be good

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