Bristle Worms

[mudplayerx]

I noticed some bristle worms under the plate of my galaxea coral. I am rather alarmed because I read on the forums once that a guy lost a galaxea due to worms under the plate eating the coral.
The bristle worms are roughly 1 inch long and about 2mm wide. Should I be alarmed? What can I buy that will eat these buggers? Is there any way to catch the ones that are this small or kill them?

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by mudplayerx
I read on the forums once that a guy lost a galaxea due to worms under the plate eating the coral.
People come up with all kinds of excuses when they lose corals. If anything the worms were probably cleaning up a dead coral and saved the rest of the inhabitants from having to go through an ammonia spike.
The bristle worms are roughly 1 inch long and about 2mm wide. Should I be alarmed?
Nope.
What can I buy that will eat these buggers?
Six-Line, Arrow Crab, most Wrasses.
Is there any way to catch the ones that are this small or kill them?
Wrap a small piece of seafood in some clean nylons and leave it in overnight. I don't know why you would want to cripple your cleanup crew though.

 

[bigarn]

I wouldn't be to alarmed ..... most of the time they're good critters to have. If you want to get rid of them, they sell traps for them or I've heard certain Wrasses eat them. If you want to cut down on the amount you have, cut down on the available nutrients in the water. The less nutrients, the less worms.

 

[feixjai]

what are bristle worms? what cause then and what can it do?

 

[bang guy]

Bristle worm is the common name for Polychaete Worms. There are over 10,000 different species of these segmented worms. The most common are Feather dusters, Spaghetti Worms, Fire Worms, and Hair worms.
The vast majority of the worms are detrivores. Some are filter feeders and there are a dozen or so that are predators.

 

[drummerbum]

Originally posted by Bang Guy
Wrap a small piece of seafood in some clean nylons and leave it in overnight. I don't know why you would want to cripple your cleanup crew though.
Hey Bang I told you that, so did you try it, did it work.
Woo, I cant belive that a moderator relayed advice from such a person as me,
Tis' a good day in the land.

:happy:

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by DrummerBum
Hey Bang I told you that, so did you try it, did it work.
It works great. Now when someone want some Bristle Worms for their tank I can get them a lot easier. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[larrynews]

here is one of my worms..

 

[bang guy]

Here's one of mine:

 

[mudplayerx]

Thanks for the advice and peace of mind everyone. The bristle worms came with the galaxea coral that was given to me. I don't have any problem with nutrients
nitrates and phosphates have been zero since cycle