bristle worm?

[lionpicasso]

i just found a bristle worm in my tank hiding in my lr he was small though, should i leave him in there or gettin him out and what fish eat bristle worms?

 

[ocellaris_keeper]

these things are a part of the natural habitat. Unless it's 6 inches long and attacking eveything it's helping to mix up your substrate.

 

[fshhub]

good things, leave it in, just never touch it

 

[carrie1429]

They are ok when they are small, but when they get too big they will start eating snails, crabs, or anything slow moving. They are a lot easier to get out when they are small. I am having a lot of trouble with a really big one in my tank. Bristle worms may be good for your tank when they are small, but when they're big, they are a pain to get out.

 

[daisy]

how long does it take for them to get really big? I've got lots and lots of them in my tank -- they came on live rock. It's been nearly two years, but none of them is over two inches.

 

[jakob4001]

that long a period of time, most likely there is at least one that if bigger than 2"; but as long as you have not noticed anything gone damged/missing for unknown reason, probably nothing to worry about; size does not necessarily dictate behavior, species can though & there are MANY species of bristlworms that can show up in a reef/FOWLR tank; very few species are specialized eaters of captive corals, inverts, fish; we have 1 that has been tank acclimated for almost 2 years now & is about 1.5' long funny thing was 1st owners of the LR didnt even know it was there for the 1st year;has not bothered anythning ever; except for maybe the occasional tift w/ the arow crab over food & space; # 1 rule thought is NEVER TOUCH ANY BRISTLEWORM (another name for them is FIREWORM w/ good reason;each 1 of those bristles can inflict a painful sting w/ various results)