How Dangerous are Big Bristleworms?

[TomToro]

I have an unnaturally large supply of very blue, nightcrawler size bristleworms in my tank. I've used smaller worms than thsi to fish. When I'm able, I can get the tip of them into the baster and yank 'em out and throw them in the refugium, but there's tons more in there. Are they a danger to the fish and inverts (corals, stars, snails, mushrooms, hermits)? Anybody see blue ones before?

Thanks,
Tom

[Max]

Nope never seen any blue ones Tom but, that isn't saying much their are so many different bristle worms out there. Have you ever seen them eating on any of your live critters? That's what I'd use to judge.
hth
Max

[FreddytheFish]

I've never seen blue ones either. I really don't think they will pose a problem, but if you're concerned, you could try a trap. Take a PVC pipe, and drill a hole just big enough for the bristleworms to get in in one of the endcaps. Then bait it, and right before you turn off the lights at night put it in. The next day you should have some bristleworms in the trap.

[TomToro]

I've never seen them eating any livestock, but over the years I've 'lost' many small fish. I've even seen some that have escaped 'something' in there with chunks of their body bitten. I only have small hermits and no other crabs (that I know of). Never heard any clicking or seen any evidence of a mantis.

Most are about 1/8'' in diameter and a couple of inches long. One, however is about 1\4" in diameter and maybe four inches long. Like a nightcrawler.

I like the trap idea. I'll try it.

Thanks,
Tom

[Max]

as another alt to the trap method get a jar with a plastic lid poke a hole in the lid and get some fish, shrimp etc and put in a panty hose inside of the jar.
hth
Max

[Tab64]

I once saw a blue king ragworm at a sea aquarium. It was about 5", also was more round than bristle worms and kinda looked like a millipede but if I ever saw a bristle worm that big it may not look that flat either. I do not know if they were the same as a bristle worm.

[wastememphis]

Look at this worm....

The Worm Incident (http://www.oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm)

I've had 2 10-12" bristle worms in a 29 gallon tank before, I saw one grab a scooter blenny. I had to try to remove them for a couple of weeks before they actually came out.

[kcooley]

this post is worthless without pics

[TomToro]

I've got a crappy camera and I took pics, but it didn't show the blue color of get sharp enough. I yanked another one out yesterday and it looks just like this ragworm pic that I downloaded. Mine are bluer than this, but body style is very close. Tab64 good call!

It says it's a predator of small creatures. Didn't say if those were snail size creatures or copepod size. I think I'm going to get them out of there using the traps you guys suggested.

Thanks,
Tom

[Ghost_knife]

that looks like an Enucid worm of sorts...could be a bristle...I'd take it out nonetheless

[FreddytheFish]

this post is worthless without pics

Not really. Pics always make a thread better and easier to work with, but this one was still clear without them....

[BadRoma1]

yes, take it out. i'm still debating on if i want to take my regular bristle worms out or keep them. supostibly, they are harmless, but more and more fish get full face or mouth of bristles lately, some fish take several days before they come out from the hiding after the stick with bristles.

[Max]

Try feeding less badroma their populations adjust to avail food. If you cut back on excess food the problem should regulate it's self. I don't recall how big your tank is or how much stock you have but, you might also consider adding an orchid dotty back some of them have quite the liking for b.w.'s.
hth
Max

[wastememphis]

I bought a sixline wrasse to eat my worms, I dont know if it eats them but I haven't found any!

[Max]

Man they will and so will dottybacks. My little dotty back acts like they are noodles lol.
Nice to see you around w.m.!
Max

[wastememphis]

:) I'll have to start a thread soon about my new tank I'm building... nice to see you too Max I haven't been here in about a year.

[Mr.Firemouth]

Most large worms are predatory. I would recommend their removal to play it safe! If you or anyone you know has a digital camera some pics would be great!

I would use a one litre pepsi bottle. Place the shrimp at the bottom then add filter wool loosely packed. That makes it harder for the worm to escape when you remove the bottle. I would do this every night until you don't catch anymore worms. I would not return the worms to a refugium until proper identification was done on whether or not they are safe.

[BadRoma1]

sorry for cutting into this post. thanks, Max. but i worry about my small neon blue gobbies with orchid dottyback. right now i have no room in my tank for extra fish, but i'm going to temporarly upgrade from 40 to 55. later i'm going to set up two tanks, 40 and 95. do you think that 55 will have room for orchid if i already have a grown lownmover blenny, two neon blue gobbies, small copperband butterfly, small cleaner wresse, and yellow tang 6"?