Brsitle eating Xenia

[theappe]

Is it a possible for a bristle worm to be eating away at my xenia?

 

[fishgeek01]

larger bristle worms have been known to embed themselves in soft corals and eat their way out or through the coral, depending on the size of the worm and the amount of food available i would say yes it is possible, however xenia is one of those corals that just up and start dying for no apparent reason.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by Fishgeek01
larger bristle worms have been known to embed themselves in soft corals and eat their way out or through the coral, depending on the size of the worm and the amount of food available i would say yes it is possible, however xenia is one of those corals that just up and start dying for no apparent reason.
I've never read this... interesting. Do you have a reference?

 

[majakarot]

I don't know about bristle worms, but i've had nasty little flatworms eat holes in some soft corals, can't remember if it was xenia or colt though...

 

[dmjordan]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
I've never read this... interesting. Do you have a reference?
oregonreef.com ....the worm incident...worm was eating ricordia, xenia and zoos. nasty, long bristle worm

 

[fishgeek01]

thanks for finding a reference to that i looked and could not find where i read that, i think it may have been in the magazine FAMA

 

[mrdc]

I posted this occurrence a long time ago. I had a bristle worm come out of a rock, grab a young xenia and yank it back into its hole. This did not prevent my xenia from growing like a weed!

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by theappe
Is it a possible for a bristle worm to be eating away at my xenia?
I have alot of bristles in my 29 and alot of silver xynia and have had no problem with xynia. I do have them abusing my star polyps from the inside out. I wish I could eraticate them. I have too much rock to pluck them out. I have one that is ~4-5 inches and I have missed him numerous times. I may try food wrap in nylon panties. Supposedly they will get entangled. Oh Honey..........
Mc

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by dmjordan
oregonreef.com ....the worm incident...worm was eating ricordia, xenia and zoos. nasty, long bristle worm
Thanks...
I'll have to change my opinion to reef safe*.

*Some worms may not be reef safe.

 

[dragonboy]

Well that could just be some worm doesn't necessarly mean all worms but still also dosen't mean they can't change eatting habits. To be on the safe side its good to get some worm eatting fish to slow down the population of the worms.

 

[theappe]

I have a sixline wrasse and supposedly it eats worms. Hasnt eaten anything yet!