worm kinda freaks me out...

[monalisa]

I posted a little while back about a worm in my tank. I turns out that it is a bristle worm. I see it almost every night after lights out. I saw it this evening, and whoo, it's longer than I thought. It looks to be at least 3-4" long. When I look after dark at a really cool piece of porous rock in my tank after dark, I see all kinds of little ones just like it. I sure hope this isn't anything to worry about. Will these things eventually become lunch, or after hours snack for someone? :notsure:
Any replies welcomed...
Lisa :happyfish

 

[sato]

They are just the unsung part of the cleaning crew. No need to worry about them unless something goes missing and there is no other explanation.
There isnt any need to worry.

 

[monalisa]

Thanks Sato,
Actually, while I was waiting for a reply, I walked over to my tank and found her out and about and I think she was dining on some of the diatoms...can't be all bad, it's just a little creepy. Thanks again for your response...
Lisa :happyfish

 

[speg]

Bristle worms are one of those sea creatures that are handy but can turn bad. If it was me.. anything like that would have to go. Though if its just one or two or three or whatever little amount it is.. you should be fine.. If you notice that its slobbering all over a polyp coral or leather.... might wanna get the tweezers out.

 

[monalisa]

Does anything, you know, dine on them? :scared:
Lisa :happyfish

 

[tizzo]

Bristles worms are beneficial. If it's eating something in your tank then that means that that "something" was already dead and your bristles are saving you an ammonia spike!!
The common bristleworms are beneficial. There is one type that will eat corals but I've never seen one, nor do I know anybody who's ever seen one. They are pretty rare.
Keep your bristles and be happy you have them. They rank right up there with pods!! :yes:

 

[speg]

Sixline wrasse will eat them if you have a outbreak.

 

[mudplayerx]

You only need to worry about bristleworms if they are over around 8 inches and if you have corals in the tank. They are revolting, but pretty harmless.... actually beneficial as detrivores.
Whatever you do...don't touch them with your hands. Geting their bristles in their skin can be compares to getting fiberglass or cactus hairs in your skin. Very irritating.
You can buy a bristleworm trap if you like. They move extremely fast when threatened, so catching them by any other means is close to impossible.

 

[monalisa]

Tizzo,
Actually I noticed that there was some kind of disruption in my sand this weekend, right about in the spot that I spotted her...I'm thinking that she's taking care of business with the diatoms, hmmmm

You're right though, Mud, kinda scary. I'll keep an eye on that situation.
Thanks guys...
Lisa :happyfish

 

[weazil]

I have never seen any bristle worms in my tank but when i look in the over flow it looks like a swarm of magets, I have so many bristle worms in my overflow along with lil grey guys that look almost like small shrimp.
should i try and move some to the tank or remove whats in the overflow some how maybe with a turkey baster?

 

[farmboy]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
Does anything, you know, dine on them? :scared:
Lisa :happyfish

I don't have one (want one) but have read that the Pseudochromis/Dottyback is a predator of bristleworms. Also reef safe and some are very colorfull(fridmani).

 

[solarscar]

I found my arrow crab had a fireworm in its clutches one morning. Don't know if he actually ate it or not though.

 

[gatorwpb]

Several other current threads are discussing bristleworms, Reef Forum. Check those out for some advice on how to get rid of them.
And Ill say here what I said in those. They are ugly. There are plenty of other detritovores that will do the same work.
Sixline wrasse seems to be the best predator of them. Arrow crab has a chance of attacking other tankmates, so Ive read.