Arrow Crab and Fireworms?

[shawnts106]

Do Arrow Crabs eat fireworms? It says they eat bristle worms... but does that mean fireworms? or what is a Bristle Worm?

 

[shawnts106]

no one knows?

 

[shawnts106]

So no one knows anything about Arrow Crabs.... Im thinking about buying one to get rid of some of the fireworms in the tank... What other kind of crab that is reef safe would eat these horible pests!:notsure:

 

[nicky1.8t]

I have haerad that they eat bristleworms, but dont know for sure. My brother has one in his reef, but hasnt seen any worms being eaten. Great looking crab though

 

[clarkiiboi]

Fireworms is a new name to me, could it just be a bristle worm with a different name? I will add a pic of a bristle worm. If the pic matches, yes arrow crabs could eat them, but they (bristles) are good to have and arrow crabs are not reef safe in the long run, IMO.

 

[clarkiiboi]

The color can vary, but its the "bristles" on the sides that give it away.

 

[nyyanks514]

Just wondering, In what way are Arrows not reef safe?

 

[shawnts106]

Bristle worms are good to have??? Yes those are the worms I have and I have hundreds!! I thought they were pests... how do they help the aquarium???
and why arent arrows safe in the long run???

 

[ssweet1]

I am really wanting an answer too, because I have those worms all over too and they are bright red. I thought they were bad for corals?? Seriously I was just about to go get an arrow crab, my book says they eat them and are an excellent choice for a reef. Someone please respond Thanks, Carrie

 

[larrynews]

i have an arrow crab in my reef and all i've notice thats bothering is every once in a while he'll pull out a crab and eat it...but other that no problems

 

[montidanae]

BRISTTLE WORMS ARE GOOD!!! arrow's eat bristtles and fires, bristle worms are a safe species of fireworms, only some eat corals, you dont have to worry about them, if you have worms that look like bristles, btut ehy are a different color, like blue/orange/green then you should try and pick those out, its not a good idea to use natural preditors to get rid of things, they will eventualy run out of food.

 

[montidanae]

Originally posted by shawnts106
Bristle worms are good to have??? Yes those are the worms I have and I have hundreds!! I thought they were pests... how do they help the aquarium???
and why arent arrows safe in the long run???

bristle worms eat un eaten food and deterius before it has a time to break down and creat trates ammonia, they also eat any dead inverts/fish beofre you notic, and when you notic its usualy to late they already polute the water, but the worms take care of that,

 

[dragonboy]

Arrow's are pretty safe they don't harm anything maybe on occasion it might be climbing over some of the corals but he hasn't really done damage to them. They also help eat uneatten food or feed off of dead things. Well they say he suppose to eat worms but I haven't actually seen it has done any of that. As for fireworms I heard it was the dangerous speices of the bristleworms. But I not for sure which is which but there are dangerous bristleworms just have to know which one you have.

 

[shawnts106]

Well.. if the Fireworms, B-Worms, are ok and are COMPLETLY REEF SAFE WITH FISH CORAL SNAILS, STARFISH ETCC...... then I wont get the arrow crab.... So fireworms do NOT eat anything that I need.... what do they eat?

 

[dragonboy]

Fireworms do the same as bristleworm they just eat dead things and debrius but you just have to make sure you got one of the safe ones.

 

[clarkiiboi]

Let me clarify, it was late when I posted and seems I may of worded myself wrong or misleading--for that I am sorry. Bristles are safe and good to have for the reasons MontiDanae mentioned. For the arrows, I thought I had read some bad posts on them, so I just did a search and came up with a 50/50 split basically. I did see when they get bigger you may have to watch small fish and other crabs/shrimp like them (no shell). Sorry for the confusion.

 

[shawnts106]

well... Ive not really noticed that they are bothering any corals, and they did eat those snails that died.... as a matter of fact... All ive ever seen them do eat dead stuff and wiggle around the bottom and in the rocks.... I do worry that they might eat some corals.... but all mine are doing fine... and yes they are the same worms as the one pictured above!!! there are some really little ones and some 4 or 6 inch ones!!!
If everyone thinks this species is ok to have... then Ill leave them be.... but if not I need to know something thats going to kill these suckers off quick!!!
thanks for all your advise im looking forward for more!