I just got some live rock for a mini reef i am doing and i got a 3inch long worn type thing one one rock its wight with small furry leg trype things all along its body and it has some small black dots aswell. IT COULD BE LONGER THAN 3 INCHES BUT I CANT SEE IT
2007-07-20 15:18:41 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
i the worm thing good or bad
2007-07-20 15:25:06 · update #1
Did it look something like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26504654@N00/457588405/
It's a type of bristleworm. Some types (called fireworms) are harmful, but the typical bristleworm is okay - it will help stir your substrate and eat food the fish might not get to in tight corners in the rock. You don't want to touch them though - the bristles along the sides of the body hurt!
2007-07-20 15:34:40 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a fireworm. There is hot debate over whether it is a nuisance or not. If you grab it with your hands the fiberglass like hairs will break off in your skin and most likely get infected if you can't get it out. If you are going to have corals they can be stung by them too. I would say remove it. A popular myth is that they eat corals, but they only eat decaying flesh and waste matter, so you can make up you mind if you want to keep it.
2007-07-20 22:40:10 · answer #2 · answered by amistere4u 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a few of those come in on my live rock and they havent hurt anything at all.
ive got lots of coraline algae, feather dusters, some forms of shrimp, and the worms your talking about on mine
2007-07-20 23:13:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
common things are snails and small crabs.
2007-07-20 22:29:49 · answer #4 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋