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TriggerHappy 
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 Topic: Look what I found today?!
Posted: February 06 2004 at 9:00pm |
What is this thing? A Cucumber? It is about 8" long and about 1" round/wide. I just saw this bugger today?! I cannot believe that I have not seen it before!
Please help identify!
TIA-Bill
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Ryan Willden
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Posted: February 06 2004 at 9:12pm |
COOL! 
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TriggerHappy
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Posted: February 06 2004 at 9:23pm |
Very, huh!
I just wish I knew what it was!
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TriggerHappy
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Posted: February 06 2004 at 10:43pm |
Seems like not good news...appears to be a bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata).
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 6:02am |
Camerofish, you are correct. 
Most bristleworms are our friends and perform as part of the cleanup crew, but this one is harmful to coral.  You will want to remove it ASAP.
Don't try to catch it with your hands, because it stings. 
If you are able to remove it by removing a rock, do it. Here's another method:
Get some large size bridal veil netting and wrap some loose layers around a piece of shrimp. Tie it loosely with fishing line with several wraps in different directions. drop it in the tank near a rock with a length of fishing line that reaches out of the tank. When that bugger has gotten itself into the netting eating the shrimp, pull it out of the tank.
As soon as you start pulling, it will contract which keeps it emmeshed in the material. If it is stuck partway in a rock just keep a constant tugging pressure on it and it should come out, hopefully in one piece. If it breaks, you will have to repeat the procedure later on the regrown worm. It may have spawned so be prepared for more.
Edited by Mark Peterson
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Weimers
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 8:14am |
Can it live in a refugium? It's so pretty, and I'm sure it does something good for the tank...?
I've been hit by a fireworm in Malta. They may have been a different genus or species, but it wasn't too bad. It was like getting insulation on your arm. I just like to let things live & grow. Plants, animals, inverts, fish... these are all good! I'd be willing to try and let him live in our sump. Just a thought.
Renee
Edited by Weimers
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ffc3
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 9:12am |
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I think it looks like a spanish dancer or similar nudibranch.
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TriggerHappy
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 9:35am |
 Weimers wrote:
Can it live in a refugium? It's so pretty, and I'm sure it does something good for the tank...?
I've been hit by a fireworm in Malta. They may have been a different genus or species, but it wasn't too bad. It was like getting insulation on your arm. I just like to let things live & grow. Plants, animals, inverts, fish... these are all good! I'd be willing to try and let him live in our sump. Just a thought.
Renee
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That is exactly what I'd LIKE to do...not sure if that is advisable...anyone?
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TriggerHappy
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 9:37am |
ffc3...I think he is too big to be one of those...also did a search and found a picture of it... http://www.coralsphere.com/fireworm.html
I'm pretty sure that is what he is!
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Jake Pehrson
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 10:26am |
Mark Peterson wrote:
Camerofish, you are correct.
Most bristleworms are our friends and perform as part of the cleanup crew, but this one is harmful to coral. You will want to remove it ASAP.
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I will have to disagree with Mark. I would not remove this worm unless you notice that he is eating you corals (or other things you want to keep). Most bristle worms are beneficial, even the big ones. Every once in a while you will find a worm with a taste for corals, but this can occur in the smaller worms also.
If you do end up getting rid of him please let me know. I would be willing to take him off your hands.
Eric Borneman recently was talking to someone that had remove a large bristle worm from their tank and said "The hole in the leather is common - could be from any number of things, but unlikely the bristle worm...I hate that you removed it. Ones that big are kind of special, IMO."
Edited by Jake Pehrson
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Jared Wood
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 12:21pm |
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It is so cool when you loose track of how many animals are in your tank! (cool but also a little freaky) Makes me worry about sticking my fingers down in the dark places in my tank.
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In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth ... then He let it cycle. Have you read my dinosaur theory yet?
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TriggerHappy
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 3:54pm |
Jake...that's kind of what I'm thinking...how long did it take for him to get so big. None of my coral seem to be hurt...I want to keep an eye out but live and let live, yes?
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TriggerHappy
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Posted: February 08 2004 at 4:17pm |
Seems that the worm is a harmless Eurythoe complanata!
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: February 08 2004 at 5:08pm |
Thanks to Jake, this thread went in the right direction. 
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ssilcox
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Posted: February 08 2004 at 7:27pm |
Hey Bill - who made that ID? That was awesome - the two look SOO much alike.
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