Red Bristleworms??

[c1ownfish]

So I last fall I set up a refugium for my 75g Reef tank. I got some sand from a fellow local reefer, place a few chunks of LR in there, and 4 Red mangroves. Lately I have noticed little red worms that have spikes coming out of their sides. Are these good little bristleworms?? They kinda look like this picture I found on the web!

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/picture_pages/faq_bristle.html

They are always crawling in and out of the holes on the LR.

I would post a picture of my setup but I don't have anywhere else to post it to link to...
Thanks
Malia

[cich1]

go to the gallery section here and register, then you can upload photos here

[MikeS]

my tank is crawling with those things....they are a beneficial scavenger, nothing to worry about, unless they get REALLY big...

Mike

[wolfhound]

Bristle worms are only supposed to attack dead or dying critters or corals. Howver, I have had them try to nab slow-moving fish and they will sting you or your fish if they atempt to sit on them or on their rock.
I personally hate the little buggers but I endure them only becasue they really are great scavengers and clean-ups. I have pulled some out of my tank that were over 16 inches long. Use forceps or tweezers if you need to handle them.
Wolfy

[MarineScientist19]

Yep, cant count how many times ive got stung by them, however my 250G i have a 3 year old coral banded cleaner shrimp that seems to have no problem taking down small to even the larger bristles, his mate (female) however does not bother with them