Worms..Worms..and more Worms!!!

[arjayl]

How do I get rid of those bristle worms..I think they are anyway...red and looks like a centipede...
I replaced my tank and found them all over the place in the substrate. I would like to get rid of them natuarally..a fish...crab..etc.
Any suggestions
I lost count when I hit fifty or so
55 gal
4 inches substrate 1inch crushedcoral/live sand 3 inches live sand
150 lbs live rock
Fluval 340
Penguin 400
Couple Power Heads
Protien Skimmer

 

[rsd]

I hear arrow crabs will keep them in check, but you have to watch the crab, he could start harming corals as well.
Bristle worms are goo detrivours and do a great job of stirring the sand. But if you have too many????
I believe there is a fish that likes chowing on them as well... but somebody else will have to name it.

 

[danrw84]

oh god, dont touch them! one got me at the LFS and shot all its bristles into me and i had a reaction! my hands hurt like hell!!!!!!

 

[arjayl]

How many are too many...I could see well over fifty when changing the substrate...The tank is 55 gal...What worrys me is the ones I dont see, and how many!
I use rubber gloves anytime I move a rock...I read too many horror stories about those suckers.

 

[dburr]

I gott'm all over the tank, when I feed they really come out.
Don't worry about them unless you see a big one. (4 + ").
But if you still want to get rid of them... hmmm.... try tying a shimp to a string and catch them like crabs... then you can send them to me.

 

[beth]

Why would you want to get rid of them? They are an important part of your detrivore arsenal. Some people actually buy these for their tanks! I have hundreds in my reef tank.

 

[jedininja]

A lot of it depends on what kind of bristleworms you have. I have several species in my tank. There was one that was kinda dark red that was a horror. I saw them before but always heard that most of them were beneficial so I never did anything about it. But I started noticing them on my coral aand them I found my bubble coral half gone and saw some of those worms inside its skeleton.
SO I went out and got an arrow crab, but after a few days the crab was dead and the same worms were eating it. Not sure if the worms killed it or it died and the worms were just scavenging. So I went to my LFS and asked for help. The guy reccomneded I buy a lime green wrasse. I took him home and the guy did wonders. It finished off almost all the worms within a few weeks. Unfortunatly, it doesnt discriminate between beneficial and harmful worms and almost eliminated my worm population.
But other than that, he is a totaly cool fish. Always very active and eats like crazy.

 

[arjayl]

Well its sounds like I should keep the little buggers in the tank for now.
I appreciate the feedback.

 

[laneki]

four-line wrasses will also eat bristleworms...