Quote:
Originally Posted by
MyLady http:///forum/thread/380885/arrow-crab#post_3315762
OK, so I was doing some reading and found that arrow crabs like to eat bristle worms. We have quite a few in our tank and I wouldn't call them an attractive addition. Especially that really long black icky looking one. So, would adding an arrow crab get rid of the bristle worms? And then after they are gone, what then? There seems to be conflicting information. Some saying it will hurt soft coral and small invertebrates, others saying that they've never had that issue. I came across a thread on another forum where a long black bristle worm that looked very much like ours ate all the eggs of breeding clownfish and the clownfish had mouths full of bristles from trying to protect the eggs.
I am of the school of thought that bristle worms should be left alone until they get very large. If a see one that is more than 4-5", I will usually pluck them out with forceps once they get that large
if I see them.
To me, and many others, bristleworms are essential to a tank, and one of the best CUC members you can have.
As for arrow crabs, I'm of the school of thought that they are NOT reef safe. More people have trouble with them eating corals than those that do not.
If you're really that concerned about too many bristleworms, look into something like a sixline wrasse. They eat them, but won't eat too many. I know bristleworms are ugly, but they are very important to the tank.
