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Wednesday, February 4, 2009


I'm very much an independent learner. I like to learn more about things that I'm interested in. Cell function, although important, not high on my list. Cool animals, I could read for hours. In the marine tank in 327 Kettering an elusive creepy crawler pops up every now and again when I'm cleaning to say hello. I had no idea what it was, so I spent one afternoon with my friend and we tried to identify this creature. With help from our very own resident Darwin, Dr. Stoffer, we got a general idea where to look. As it turned out we have an eight inch fire worm living in our tank! No one for sure knows how he got there, but he is definitely the king of that tank. While reading up on this monster I learned some crazy things I didn’t know, but I’m sure glad I know now. This fuzzy worm is called a fire worm because of the burning sensation that is caused when you touch it. It has what looks like white fluff around it, which are actually like tiny little hollow needles filled with poison! This toxin delivers a terrible burning sensation that can last for several days. Unlike a jellyfish sting that is usually forgotten by the next day. These little bristles pierce the skin and then break off inside. I found one solution in a field guide to removing these mini daggers, tape. Handy dandy tape works like waxing off leg hair; it grips and rips. Just adding to your pleasant experience. This terrorist of the sea floor is found in shallow waters, near coral, rocks, and other hard substrate it can hide under. It also can burrow under the sand to hide. So next time you find a cute little fuzzy underwater caterpillar I’d think twice before picking it up, or swimming near it! I know I probably wont be sticking my hands in that marine tank every again!

8 comments:

  1. Now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure I might remember learning about that in Zoology. Which tank is this again? I'll be sure to stear clear of it from now on, or hope I just happen to have tape on me...

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  2. OK, where is the follow up to this story?

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  3. OK OK! Sooo... unfortunately I am a complete idiot. In my attempt to further my knowledge on this interesting little worm... I had taken him out of the tank and continued looking at him under the dissecting microscope... UNFORTUNATELY I was fascinated by his little proboscis poking in and out and I didn't realize that his back end curled around and got my finger. Yes they named him rightfully fire worm. It burned like mad for about 2 days. Then it eased up. Thanks to Dr. Posner and the wonderful invention of packaging tape, I believe I got all the spines out. The student health center looked at me like I was on drugs.. I was then on Benadryl for a few days, which made me a zombie. Seriously though... I'm REALLY not going near him anymore... I promise. I think I will move on to more dangerous animals. I've never been bitten by a poisonous snake before... (JOKING)

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  4. Neeley you crack me up! When did this happen? Luckily this didn't happen to me... I would have passed out until someone found me... so would Brandi...

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  5. Curiousity killed the cat. Thankfully, the worm did not kill the Neeley. I'm curious though, how did packaging tape help get the spines out, and were the spines from the proboscis?

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  6. I didn't think that you would actually let that thing sting you! I thought you were joking about wondering what it would feel like! Is this why you weren't in Entomology class today? Hopefully you are all better! How many of those spines penetrated the skin?

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  7. There is no telling how many spine penetrated the skin.. They are crazy tiny. Will the packaging tape works like waxing your legs. it grips onto what is left sticking out and rips them out. Sounds worse than it already is to be honest. The spines are so small that you don't feel them at all.

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  8. Neeley -- you kill me! Only you would try to touch something with the word "fire" in the name. It makes me wish I could have been there :( Good luck with your last semester -- and everyone else too! Can't wait to see you!


    P.S. The darters are getting their color back! I've finally got the temperature of the tank to their optimal reproduction temp and hopefully I'll be having babies soon -- if they don't eat the eggs :)

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