anyone know what a fireworm really looks like?

[sunken3]

 

[sunken3]

i am guessing just big bristle worms - but thought i'd ask..

 

[sunken3]

i tried petting one and calling it my precious... but that didn't go so well.

 

[Gtinnel]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but as I understand the red filaments near the bristles is an indication of a fire worm. I believe the red filaments are part of the worms gills.
I'm pretty sure those are fireworms not normal bristleworms.

 

[king aiptasia]

its been a long time since ive seen a worm i could say is possibly Hermodice, congratulations on this

take a close look at his face, does it have this structure of frilly growths on the head?

if the answer is yes, i'd say you got fireworms. There's not much risk in having them around if you dont have corals to be eaten

 

[king aiptasia]

also you don't happen to live around central jersey? i wouldn't mind having bona fide fireworms

 

[IKD]

i tried petting one and calling it my precious... but that didn't go so well.

Only the one ring(worm) responds to that

 

[sunken3]

its been a long time since ive seen a worm i could say is possibly Hermodice, congratulations on this

take a close look at his face, does it have this structure of frilly growths on the head?

if the answer is yes, i'd say you got fireworms. There's not much risk in having them around if you dont have corals to be eaten

i'll see.. not sure I am going to get that close to its face..

 

[king aiptasia]

i'll see.. not sure I am going to get that close to its face..

there's nothing to be scared of, it's just another beautiful peaceful marine animal

 

[sunken3]

there's nothing to be scared of, it's just another beautiful peaceful marine animal

lol.. i checked mine.. they didnt have that weird rooster face.

 

[kenchilada]

there's nothing to be scared of, it's just another beautiful peaceful marine animal

My rule is to never keep any animal I wouldn’t drop down my pants.

 

[sunken3]

My rule is to never keep any animal I wouldn’t drop down my pants.

uh???

 

[king aiptasia]

My rule is to never keep any animal I wouldn’t drop down my pants.

i dunno, i dont think i'd put any animals in my pants

 

[Melodydavis]

its been a long time since ive seen a worm i could say is possibly Hermodice, congratulations on this

take a close look at his face, does it have this structure of frilly growths on the head?

if the answer is yes, i'd say you got fireworms. There's not much risk in having them around if you dont have corals to be eaten

ok, nope! Not gonna put my face anywhere near that, LOL!

 

[WVNed]

Not a trouser snake

try some of these

 

[Jeffcb]

Just don't touch it.

 

[king aiptasia]

lol.. i checked mine.. they didnt have that weird rooster face.

Interesting, where did you encounter them, new rock, already in the tank? Most Amphinomidae worms have a caruncle of some sort it is used by professionals to differentiate species, even the beneficial Eurythoe has a form of it (it is not branched and layered, just a simple thin projection that overlaps i think 3 segments if i remember correct). Hermodice has a large prominent caruncle usually nearly as wide as its length, with deep folds

 

[vetteguy53081]

Caruncle is not the easiest to spot. the coloration is generally a giveaway but moreso, fireworms are identified by their heavier body and much more pronounced bristles – being a clearly visible white. Fireworms often have a reddish color on the outskirts of their bristles. A fire worm looks like a centipede with its elongated and flattened appearance, multiple segments, white silks, and parapodia and gills located on the side of its body.

 

[sunken3]

Interesting, where did you encounter them, new rock, already in the tank? Most Amphinomidae worms have a caruncle of some sort it is used by professionals to differentiate species, even the beneficial Eurythoe has a form of it (it is not branched and layered, just a simple thin projection that overlaps i think 3 segments if i remember correct). Hermodice has a large prominent caruncle usually nearly as wide as its length, with deep folds

my tanks are decades old reincarnations.. some rockwork just keeps moving from one to another and additions and subtractions. but over the years i have had likely thousands of bristle worms, but some of the silver big guys are somewhat pretty but also equally ugly.

 

[king aiptasia]

my tanks are decades old reincarnations.. some rockwork just keeps moving from one to another and additions and subtractions. but over the years i have had likely thousands of bristle worms, but some of the silver big guys are somewhat pretty but also equally ugly.

do you own any corals or have you ever had any corals damaged? The silvery color is a form of aposematic coloration to tell would be attackers "back off or I'll give ya a prick".

Caruncle is not the easiest to spot. the coloration is generally a giveaway but moreso, fireworms are identified by their heavier body and much more pronounced bristles – being a clearly visible white. Fireworms often have a reddish color on the outskirts of their bristles. A fire worm looks like a centipede with its elongated and flattened appearance, multiple segments, white silks, and parapodia and gills located on the side of its body.

as long as you get a close enough shot the head piece is one of the most prominent of all Amphinomidae caruncles. Even its scientific name alludes to an outstanding caruncle by calling it Hermodice carunculata. It so happens this one is also a voracious eater and tends to get fairly beefy compared to some other species. The reddish branching tissue on the sides is not necessarily unique to this worm (though it is seen as red on most specimens of the bearded fireworm). not saying that op doesn't have bearded fireworms, just saying innocent till proven guilty and even when guilty of being a bearded fireworm they don't eat every type of coral sold in the trade and seem to have a notable preference for sps like Acropora when they do eat corals. A side note Hermodice is not compatible with echinoderms such as sea urchins and some starfish, and will actively take edible species as food