Check this out!!!!!!

[rustdog02]

I was cleaning my tank, and when I turned over a rock there was about 6 of these under it. the rest of them went back into the holes before I could get my camera. Anyone know what it is?

 

[Len]

You got yourself a bristleworm ... probably a juvenile. Nearly all bristleworms are harmless and they're inevitable hitchikers (everyone's tanks has hundreds of these).

 

[Anonymous]

Ditto what Len said

 

[rustdog02]

I have read up on the bristle worm, and most people say that they are bad and will kill thing in my tank? But they say their are a lot of different kinds of them, and some are benificial? does anyone know if I have the good ones or the bad ones , what I should do?

 

[rustdog02]

and also, if I try to remove them by hand will the bristles sting me?

 

[Oceans Ferevh]

yes they will stab their little bristles in you, and it dousn't feel too grand. The ones you have are not harmful. This one is...

Hermodice carunculata. It eats corals.

 

[Oceans Ferevh]

Easy to spot with its cute little catapiller-like white tufts.

 

[rustdog02]

Right on. Thankyou! So if I leave these ones in my tank The won't hurt anything ?

 

[rustdog02]

what do they Eat?

 

[purplefirefish]

They are scavengers. They eat detritis and left over food. When I feed my tank I have literally hundreds of them come out of there holes and hope for a little morsel to fall there way. 8)