Bristle Worm?

[Lily's Fish]

I added new LR to the tank today and about 2 hours later, I noticed what looked like a white/blue ladder going up a rock. To my suprise, it moved, and showed beautiful blue tufts of legs (I think) on each side. It moved too quickly for me to get a photo, but I have a feeling it might be a bristle worrm.

For those who don't know, I'm a newbie (see my New Red Sea Max posting), and after searching the posts here, I'm not sure if this is a good one or a bad one. My tank, and everything except the LR, is new.

My plan is to have lots of corals, etc... so I really want to get at this now since my tank is new. Any suggestions or ideas? Should I be worried? Should I try to catch the bugger(s) tonight?

[Hop]

All my bristle worms have been brown or orangish in color. never beautiful blue...

Almost sounds like a brittle star to me, but I can't say for sure

[Fly Guy]

They can look bluish and white like you say especially when stretched out.

Without a pic its pretty hard to say for sure but I can tell you 99.99% chance what you are seeing is a harmless detrivore.

[Hop]

I kindly retract my previous post I had no clue they came in blue

[Fly Guy]

Ive never seen a true blue one either......but I have seen blue hues on the bristles and body.....especially under blue lights........

[Lily's Fish]

I don't have the moon lights on, but it was white stretched out, and almost lavender when it got wider (as it was moving). It scurried into a hole. I'll try to get a pic.

[tdwyatt]

Pix please, anything else is going to speculative from anyone tendering an opinion. I will say that the bristle worms for the most part are NOT problems for coral, and even the ones that are problems usully do not become issues until they get larger, so you should have plenty of time to get a good photo of the unknown and determine what you saw. Best way to photo this would be to set up a camera with a flash on a tripod aimed at where you last saw it (do this at 45 degrees to the plain of the glass so the reflected flash does not glare-out the subject material) and "bait the field" with a piece of shrimp or meaty fish in some old nylon hose. Weigh it down with some rock and set the photo opportunity up at 'lights out", then go set a timer (or program your camera to do this if it has that capability) for every 30 mintes during the evening and set off the remote release for your camera, you might be surprised at what you capture on film during the night. Set your alarm clock for about two or three hours before the sun comes up and do the same. You'll get lots of great shots like this, and you might catch a picture of your unknown in the process...

HTH

[Hop]

Hey Tom... I think your vowel keys are getting sticky

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Hop

Hey Tom... I think your vowel keys are getting sticky

I am on a turn-of-the-century keyboard out here tonight (Liberty, SC)... at least it works and if I take the time to proof it instead of type-and-go, it isn't too bad..

[tdwyatt]

sorry, forgot to mention that you need to darken the room as well on the camera setup.

[Hop]

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

I am on a turn-of-the-century keyboard out here tonight (Liberty, SC)... at least it works and if I take the time to proof it instead of type-and-go, it isn't too bad..

Just funnin

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Hop

Just funnin

sad thing is that I have been fussing about this all day...

[Lily's Fish]

Thanks for the info. I just got a red light for spying tonight, but wasn't sure how to lure it out. I'll try your bait suggestion.

The thing I saw was fairly wide as it was travelling, pretty skinny when it was streched out. It looked like a rope ladder with sticks through a bunch of evenly spaced knots. It took me completely by suprise, so I didn't even have a chance to get my camera.

I will try for photos tonight.

[bergie33]

Here is a pic of the bristle worm that I found the other day. Had no clue what it was at first.

[Lily's Fish]

OK - it all worked last night! Here is one pic (I have many more, but this should be sufficient).

You were all, of course, right about the reef at night. I think my favorite was the shrimp ballet. They spent all night floating up to the top, accross in the flow, down between the pump outlets, jumped from plants to rock, and then started all over again - even the one that just molted! I'm addicted already...my poor dog