ID this WORM!!!!

[bigtyguyy]

wow i dropped something into the tank so i start moving some rock around and bam i see this HUUUGGGGGEEEE WORM!!! about 8" long.

[bigtyguyy]

i am still soooooo grossed out!!!!!! ooooh man it is soooo ugly

[ajx22]

Looks to be a Fireworm of some sort - (likely Hermodice spp).

This would be something you want to remove (without touching it with your hands).

[bigtyguyy]

yea i already did AJ... Its huge!!!!!! when i first saw it the first thing i did was grab a screw driver and stab it so that it wouldn't get away and then i took the rock out that it was in and then pulled it out!

i found it.

Hermodice carunculata
Bearded Fireworm


Description & Behavior
The Bearded fireworm, Hermodice carunculata (Pallas, 1766), is a type of bristleworm of the fireworm Family Amphinomidae. This beautiful flattened segmented worm, reaching 35.6 (http://www.google.com/search?q=35.6+cm+in+ft) cm (typically 7-10 (http://www.google.com/search?q=10+cm+in+ft) cm) in length, has groups of white bristles along each side. The bristles are hollow, venom-filled setae which easily penetrate the flesh and break off if this worm is handled. They produce an intense irritation in the area of contact, hence the common name of the species. When disturbed the worm flares out the bristles so they are more exposed.

Feeding Behavior (Ecology)
Fireworms are voracious predators that feed on soft and hard corals, anemones, and small crustaceans. It will engulf the last few centimeters of the tip of a branching coral, such as Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn coral), in its inflated pharynx and remove the coral tissue from that portion of the skeleton. The worm will remain 5-10 minutes at each branch tip, visiting several, and the branches attacked are apparent by their white ends.

The effects of predation on certain groups can be substantial. Witman (1988) calculated that tissue predation by this worm on Milleporid Hydrocorals (firecoral) exposed 12.9 (http://www.google.com/search?q=12.9+cm+in+ft) cm2 per 1 (http://www.google.com/search?q=1+m+in+ft) m2 per day of skeleton to algal colonization.

Although H. carunculata prefers the tissue of Cnidarians, it will readily accept and thrive on alternative foods in captivity. These include: squid, clam, shrimp, krill, mysid shrimp, mussel, etc.

Predators may include the Cone snail, Conus cedonulli.


link (http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=292)

http://marinebio.org/upload/_04/Hermodice_carunculata1.jpg



I hate putting my hands in my tank. I am going to wear gloves from now on!:puke:

[Sea MunnKey]

Just make sure every single part of the "Filthy" fireworm is collected and dumped!! :whack: :chair: They're Gross...dang it sure does remind me of FW Leaches back home!! Yikes...

[Barriememo]

Is it good to keep or not?and how to treatment if they be multiple
thank

[ajx22]

Is it good to keep or not?and how to treatment if they be multiple
thank

Umm -


This would be something you want to remove (without touching it with your hands).




Feeding Behavior (Ecology)
Fireworms are voracious predators that feed on soft and hard corals, anemones, and small crustaceans. It will engulf the last few centimeters of the tip of a branching coral, such as Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn coral), in its inflated pharynx and remove the coral tissue from that portion of the skeleton. The worm will remain 5-10 minutes at each branch tip, visiting several, and the branches attacked are apparent by their white ends.

Treatment = Removal

[Sea MunnKey]

Is it good to keep or not?and how to treatment if they be multiple
thank

PLEASE READ before posting...the above posted information!! :waiting:

[bigtyguyy]

yea i just removed the whole rock before i started dirty it out with a screw driver. aaaaaa i am still so grossed out with it everytime i think about it.. its was HUGE AND UGLY!! LOL:puke: