Bristleworm ?

[reb]

I have looked into getting a detrivore kit for my aquarium, but every kit says it comes with bristleworms. Any person or store I have dealt with has told me bristleworms are bad. Can any one help me out? Thanks

 

[aarone]

definately not bad. They help sift your sand. Good creatures IMO.
aaron

 

[steelchromis]

It is a mixed feeling for them. Some people like that they sift sand but if they are large enough they can kill snails, crabs, and small fish.

 

[spsfreak100]

It is a mixed feeling for them. Some people like that they sift sand but if they are large enough they can kill snails, crabs, and small fish.
I disagree. A bristle worms diet does not change as it gets older. Bristle worms also do not have any way to attack and kill a healthy fish, no matter how small or slow it is. Bristle worms do not eat snails or crabs, unless of course, they're dead. It's only a myth that they eat fish, coral and invertibrates.
I have 2 bristle worms around 24" in my tank. They do a great job at eating detritus, left overfishfood, etc.
Graham

 

[cprdnick]

I asked my LFS about these ugly little creatures and they told me that they shoot the bristles at fish that swim to close and put them in kind of a coma then chow time.

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by cprdnick
I asked my LFS about these ugly little creatures and they told me that they shoot the bristles at fish that swim to close and put them in kind of a coma then chow time.
LOL That made my day! I'm still laughing.
There are many species of Bristleworms.
A few of the Eunicids are predators but these are quire rare in the hobby. They do appear from time to time.
There is a type of Carribean Fireworm that eats Gorgonians.
And, there actually is a Polychaete that covers a sleeping fish with a chemical laced "net" of mucus that allows the worm to eat it.
Go with the odds, there are probably a few more than a dozen predatory bristle worms and over 10,000 beneficial worms

 

[cprdnick]

Laughing at me? I'm still new to this, and nieve enough to believe whatever my LFS tells me.

 

[spsfreak100]

Originally posted by cprdnick
Laughing at me? I'm still new to this, and nieve enough to believe whatever my LFS tells me.
Cprdnick,
I doubt Bang was laughing at you, he was probably laughing at the horrible advice the LFS gave you. I do admit, what they told you was funny. And what ever you do, do not believe what most LFS's tell you. Most of the time (remember, not always) the advice they give is false. My LFS once told me that clowns will host in aiptasia, and that it's a sign of good water quality when they multiply
Graham

 

[cprdnick]

I appreciate the support. What is aiptasia? When bristleworms get seriously big, what are you supposed to do with them?

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by cprdnick
Laughing at me?
Nah, Laughing at the bizzare misconceptions some stores propogate.

 

[beerman]

I asked my LFS about these ugly little creatures and they told me that they shoot the bristles at fish that swim to close and put them in kind of a coma then chow time.
Kind of like pokemon.