bristle worms killing my stuff

[nazz13]

Im having a problem with bristles just last nite it killed my smallest clam and its eating my zoas they are half eatin.I dont know what to do evertime i try to suck em out the just suck back into the rock.Please help i dont know what to do!!!!

 

[dan83]

could you post a picture of them? i have a ton of bristle worms in my tank, they are half black half red, but have not harmed any living things, only eating a dead snail and detritus. i have xenia, mushrooms, and some small anemones. It would be great if we could figure out which are the harmless ones, and which are harmful.
also, do any fish eat these? my cinnamon clowns dont... angelfish maybe?

 

[bang guy]

They more likely scenario is that your animals are dying and the Bristleworms are consuming the dead parts.

 

[dan83]

there are a few carnivorous types, no? it would be good to get a picture of them if they really are so we can all look out. the type i have seem to be good for my tank.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by dan83
there are a few carnivorous types, no? it would be good to get a picture of them if they really are so we can all look out. the type i have seem to be good for my tank.
Yes, that's true. I don't know of any that can eat a healthy Clam though.

 

[tizzo]

And the carnivorous ones have no problem hanging out in the broad day light.

 

[nazz13]

ive watched 1 go right at the top of my zoas which are right next to the clam that i had die it was fine the night before fully open and now i have 3 or 4 of my zoas that are all eaten around the side i will try and get a pic but i dont know if i will catch em i just read in a book about a coral eating fire worm which will eat these things it looks to me in the book just like a regular brisle but it says that they are a grayish color.Well i dont know what to do to get rid of these anyone has any suggestion i would love to hear them ive been working extra hard on the tank lately so this is really discouraging.Thanks.

 

[bang guy]

If it's a fairly colorful worm with so many bright white bristles that it looks like fuzz then it could be Hermodice sp. They are not rare but they are uncommon. Beneficial Bristleworms will also cruise through Polyps to clean them up. This is helpful, not harmful.
If you can get a clear picture of the Bristleworm's head I can help you better.
The munching at the edges is obviously harmful. To me, it sounds more like the behavior of Nudibranch.

 

[nazz13]

I caught 2 in my trap last nitei dont think either are the one i was trying to catch, let me post the pic i also noticed last nite that there are hundreds of amphipods amongst my polyps and i was reading threads on this site they if there are alot of these they may eat zoas as well,but the fact is i did see this particular worm all up in my zoas so i still think its the culprit.I do have a nudi now that you mention it but i dont think he is the one doing it ive kept a close watch and i couldnt tell you what he is eating after a bought it i read that they are really hard to keep so if you have any info on this guy that would be cool to.but here are the pics of the bristles and the nudi i have.