Ok, if you have a 6+ inch bristle worm, can it harm your fish? Or is it still beneficial? Cause i saw it this morning when i checked da tank, and it was actually a little scary. Thanks.
Bristle Worm
- Thread starter Fishfriend1
- Start date
No it can't harm your fish, if a fish runs in to it then it might get a few spikes on it but that won't do the fish any harm. Just think of bristleworms as earthworms with spikes 
they are just detritus feeders.
they are just detritus feeders.
thank god! And thank you! I was saw that thing, and i nearly crapped myself. I was thinkin "Holy my god, thats bigger then most of my fish!" So i had to come here and find out if it could become dangerous with size. Thanks for dispelling my fears.
I recently watched my cranky old damsel eat two bristle worms I knocked off some rock.. It looked incredibly painful, as he grabbed it, spit it out, grabbed it and shook, and repeated about three times before choking it down.
Unfortunately the damsel lived, but it was fun to watch!
Unfortunately the damsel lived, but it was fun to watch!
I would imagine it is pretty unlikely but I don't think you can unilaterally trust a large bristle worm. A healthy fish should be able to avoid any attempt but a small sleeping fish could fall victim. Small fish like clown gobies and dragonets come to mind due to their sleep patters. I saw a small one of mine eat a PE mysis shrimp quite quickly. Obviously this is not a live fish but it didn't take long for this one to gobble down a good size feeder fish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t23eylcc-WE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t23eylcc-WE
It does depend on the species of bristleworm.
As mentioned a large enough one of some species could definitely predate sleeping fish. I would definitely worry about a 6 inch bristleworm, especially if you cannot ID the species.
As mentioned a large enough one of some species could definitely predate sleeping fish. I would definitely worry about a 6 inch bristleworm, especially if you cannot ID the species.
Ok, so do you think it could take out a firefish? Thats the smallest fish i the tank that doesn't always move.
Also, that may explain why my peppermint shrimp died for no reason. could have been attacked.
Its pink... and big. And a bristle-worm. Thats about all i know.