Worm/centipede are they good or bad

[BCReefer]

I need to know if this long worm/centipede thing in my tank is bad or good?

I though we had a post here a few months ago, but I am unable to find it?

This worm/centipede is about 2.5 – 5 cm long orange and brown.

Should I get it out or is it good for the tank?

sorry can't post any pictures, my camera is not good enough.

Thanks
Patrick

[Troy F]

Patrick, you have yourself a member of the polycheate family, aka bristle worm. They make great scavengers and are part of a healthy reef.

[BCReefer]

Good,

They are ugly looking buggers.

Patrick

[Dale D]

Hey, you think he's ugly now (2.5 - 5cm) just wait till he gets to be a foot long images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

We have a couple in a tank at work that are about 12" long. I love watching people freak out when they see them.

They're fun to pick up too, if you have some time to kill and don't mind spending the rest of the day pulling bristles out of your fingers. images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Dale

[DJ88]

Patrick,

Here is one of my bigger worms. In the first picture you see about 1/3 of its body(I think), 1/3 is in the rock and the rest is on the other side fighting my cleaner shrimp for a silversides. The second pic is the "mouth" going after the silversides.

http://members.shaw.ca/montipora/pictures/worm1.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/montipora/pictures/worm2.jpg

[ 22 January 2002: Message edited by: DJ88 ]</p>

[DJ88]

Some clearer ones for you.

http://members.shaw.ca/montipora/pictures/worm3.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/montipora/pictures/worm4.jpg

[Aquattro]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dale D:


They're fun to pick up too, if you have some time to kill and don't mind spending the rest of the day pulling bristles out of your fingers. images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Dale<hr></blockquote>

Dale, I bet you're a fun guy to party with
images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

[George]

The largest one I've caught is about 5". Toothpick is there for reference.

http://personal.smartt.com/~georgex/reef/pictures/01192002/worms.jpg

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: George ]</p>

[BCReefer]

If one of those things ever gets out of the tank and crawls around on the floor I think my wife will have a heart attack. images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Thanks for the information.