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eight2178
Guest
while looking at my tank in the middle of the night, i found many bristle worms....should i be worried? they were all probably about 1-2 inches in length....
a_fender69
Member
I have raised this question a couple of times in this forum and have since done more research into the types of worms and if they are or are not beneficial. I have concluded that the best way to determine if the worms are good or bad is to get a book that identifies them.
The common answer on the subject of worms is that they do help your tank and shows sign that you have a well-established reef. A more in depth answer to individual worms, when identified, can allow you to know their characteristics, the most important and most concern to the home aquarist would probably be feeding.
For the most part, I have identified mostly beneficial worms in my tank. I can distinctly remember finding two that were notorious for catching and eating fish.
I have found that most answers on worms are somewhat right, but lack a lot of pertinent information that is needed. Again, get a book with good credentials.
The common answer on the subject of worms is that they do help your tank and shows sign that you have a well-established reef. A more in depth answer to individual worms, when identified, can allow you to know their characteristics, the most important and most concern to the home aquarist would probably be feeding.
For the most part, I have identified mostly beneficial worms in my tank. I can distinctly remember finding two that were notorious for catching and eating fish.
I have found that most answers on worms are somewhat right, but lack a lot of pertinent information that is needed. Again, get a book with good credentials.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally posted by a_fender69
For the most part, I have identified mostly beneficial worms in my tank. I can distinctly remember finding two that were notorious for catching and eating fish.
You should expand a bit on this information to avoid propogating misinformation. The Eunicid Worms you are referring to are fairly common and they can and will catch fish, but not until they attain a length of several feet. A 2 foot Eunicid is too small to hold onto anything but the smallest fish and will not attempt it. The head of the worm, in general, will need to be at least the size of the head of the fish it is trying to catch. Once they reach that critical size, they are quite adept at catching fish.
a_fender69
Member
Bang Guy---
The worm I am referring to is not the Eunicid! Luckily I have never dealt with this type of worm and hope that I will not encounter it.
The worm I am referring to is more commonly called a fire worm (Pherecardia striata). It is typically a scavenger but has the ability to catch prey. They are smaller worms and can consume small fish.
I agree that I could have elaborated more on the subject but that was not my intent. My intent was to address the subject of worms and because there are so many and they are not easily identified, I wanted the reader to understand that there are good and bad worms. Also, I emphasized the point of getting a book so that they can identify each specimen they will find and determine themselves if it is beneficial to their tank.
The worm I am referring to is not the Eunicid! Luckily I have never dealt with this type of worm and hope that I will not encounter it.
The worm I am referring to is more commonly called a fire worm (Pherecardia striata). It is typically a scavenger but has the ability to catch prey. They are smaller worms and can consume small fish.
I agree that I could have elaborated more on the subject but that was not my intent. My intent was to address the subject of worms and because there are so many and they are not easily identified, I wanted the reader to understand that there are good and bad worms. Also, I emphasized the point of getting a book so that they can identify each specimen they will find and determine themselves if it is beneficial to their tank.
bang guy
Moderator
That is an excellent point. There are over 10,000 species of Bristle Worms and everyone lumps them into the same category. The vast majority cannot eat live food but some can and they do occationally show up in hobbiest's tanks.
There is a very interesting Polychaete that swallows Gorgonian branches whole and then pulls itself offthe bare skeleton.
Even with the Fire Worms there are several species and a couple are Coral munchers. The small ones are harmless to fish but you are correct about them being predators once they get larger.
FYI - I do have a rather large Eunicid in my Refugium. I'll try to coax it into the open for a picture.
There is a very interesting Polychaete that swallows Gorgonian branches whole and then pulls itself offthe bare skeleton.
Even with the Fire Worms there are several species and a couple are Coral munchers. The small ones are harmless to fish but you are correct about them being predators once they get larger.
FYI - I do have a rather large Eunicid in my Refugium. I'll try to coax it into the open for a picture.