How to reduce Bristleworm population?

[diane4]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how one can go about reducing their bristleworm population?
I know some of you will recommend reduce the feeding because they are scavengers and having alot of food available promote growth and development.
Sorry, I can't help myself, I like to feed regularly and I also keep the water clean and pick up uneaten food. So, that approach won't help.
Is there some kind of trap or something to reduce them. Here is why I ask.
I have a medium sized rock that has 6 heads of rhodactis on it. The Rhodactis are doing well, however......
When I target feed them like a tiny sliver of shimp, the brsiteworms smell the food and they come out in droves. One day recently I saw one of them actually reach inside one of the rhodactis heads and pull the shrimp out of his mouth.
I realize that they have a beneficial value to the tank and they are a good clean up crew. But my problem is that the rock I am talking about has a large family of them in it and they have become more of a nuisance than a help in this particular rock.
Any ideas on how to trap some and kill them off?

 

[thangbom]

ok.. go to the hardware stor.. buy yourself a peice of pvc pipe.. like 1'' pipe or of the likes.. and 2 end caps.. then drill in 1 end cap a small hole.. (whatever size the critter might be.. then get a old soda bottle (or the likes.. something that is plastic, kinda ridged but can bend some) then get some silicone and and silicone it to the hole.. ( dont silicone over the hole tho..) then u get a razor and cut a 'x' into the plastic where the hole is.. then with your finger .. carfully press the 'tabs ' back some ( you kinda want to make it to a funnle.. so that they can only go in and not out.. cuzz when they push out.. the tabs will be closed like.. and they cant fit.).. that is your trap.. not with the two caps.. u dont glue them.. so u can open and despens the unwanted.. drop some bait in it and put it in the tank.. let it sit a few days and cheack up on her..
another tp is that u can buy a few caps.. and drill different size holes so u can catch differnt size critters.

 

[bigarn]

Take a piece of women's stocking and put some meaty food in it, lower it down by a string or something .... just let it lay there and the bristleworms go for the food and get stuck in the stocking mesh because of the bristles. I've never tried it, but I've heard it really works!

 

[reefnut]

Originally Posted by diane4
I know some of you will recommend reduce the feeding because they are scavengers and having alot of food available promote growth and development.

 

[oceana]

6 line wrasse.
we had TONS of them now i have to look really hard to find one and if the 6 line sees it before i do its a goner

 

[shoreliner11]

Any particular reason why you want to cut-back numbers? Are they bothering anything? IMO if you reduce the numbers by some sort of trap and keep your husbandry the same, the numbers will just rise again. Personally I'd either not worry about them, or maybe try a six-line wrasse which IME have been hit and miss as far as eating them. I've never seen them go after large ones thats for sure.
Aaron

 

[thangbom]

yupper.. they will rise agin.... i mean.. by over feeding.. you grow these suckers...( think of it as raising livestock) ..... if you dont feed them.. then they cant eat/live.... ( heh.. funny thing came to mind... lol.. bristle worm farm!!!!!)

 

[reefnut]

I would have to agree with Aaron. In addition, even if you are removing the uneaten food there is obviously enough left behind to maintain the population of bristle worms... so if you do remove the bristle worms I would add additional scavengers to compensate.

 

[diane4]

Thanks everyone for the reply.
ThaNgBom - do you have a picture of what the trap looks like that you built. I am ok with understanding what you did up to the point of the soda bottle by the hole you drill.
A pic would be great.
Thanks everyone.
I can't help it, I love to feed the tank and the only reason why I am bothered by the bristleworm population is that I see a lot of them and it's growing, and they are going in after my closed up rhodactis that is closed up because it was target fed a tiny piece of meat and the bristleworms go into the shroom and steal food right out.
There just seems to be a lot of them.
I am also interested in the stocking idea with the meat. sounds good.

 

[reefnut]

LFS's and on-line stores sell traps.
Sixline, CBS shrimp and Cleaner Shrimp have all been known to feed on them... and the shrimp are good scavengers also. The thing is though, with plenty of other food they are likely to go for the easy meals... so traps is probably your best bet.

 

[yetti]

Arrow Crabs.............I've seen them with one in each claw before in a friends tank....
My Trigger also grabs them every now and then....

 

[1journeyman]

Why not feed the worms first???
Put a piece of shrimp down by the rock... after they go after it you could spot feed. They're going to go after the easiest meal.

 

[crzyfshygy]

Coral banded shrimp will eat them at night. Also use a turkey bastor and suck them up with it. You will have to move FAST

i used that after the light went out. I caught like four in a couple minutes.

 

[reefnpond]

I have to go with the Coral Banded Shrimp, get a mated pair. Mine go all night long just waiting for a bristle worm to stick his head out. Also, you will not have to pick up anymore food because they will pick it up for you.

 

[diane4]

Thank you everyone, you all just RULE!!!!! :jumping:

 

[1journeyman]

Can't CBS get mean though and kill fish?

 

[acrylic300]

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp--if you don't spoil it by hand feeding it.

 

[blazehok68]

Cbs Shrimp Are Sons Of ........ I Wouldnt Reccomend Them For Any Reason. Try The Cleaner Shrimp, Very Docile And They Will Probably Help With Your Problem.