Bristle worms

dr_sudz

dr_sudz

Round Peg, In A Square hole
Nov 20, 2005
77
0
0
45
Milton Ontario, Canada
Alright, I know what these guys are but how do you tell the good from the bad? And what are the easy ways to trap them if you have the bad ones?
Pictures could help :D
 
I know there are some bad ones out there... But I wouldn't really know which . . of the 4 marine tanks I've had throughout the years, I've never had "bad" bristleworms, or should I say, a bad bristelworm experience. ... And I found a couple that were over 16" long... (I'm figuring you should watch out for those though) :)

I wouldn't worry about them....
 
It is very unlikely that bristle worms will hurt anything in your aquarium... In fact they help eat leftover food and detritus which helps your cleanup crew quite a bit... I have never had a bristle work hurt a coral in any way what so ever and when I asked the question that you asked... Everyone said leave the worms alone. No need to worry unless you have a problem...

Don't fix what is not broken....
 
mikelush78 said:
It is very unlikely that bristle worms will hurt anything in your aquarium... In fact they help eat leftover food and detritus which helps your cleanup crew quite a bit... I have never had a bristle work hurt a coral in any way what so ever and when I asked the question that you asked... Everyone said leave the worms alone. No need to worry unless you have a problem...

Don't fix what is not broken....
Click to expand...

amen!
the fire worm in Nikos pic is the one to worry about the bristle worms look very similar except they are more flat and the fireworms are very round. they eat corals and will sometimes pray on fish so thats why they are not desirable. but the regular old bristle worms are usually safe as long as they dont reach plague proportions...i use a six line wrasse to keep em in check.
 
Now I'm really confused! I was told to get rid of any bristleworms as they are a pest, especially if you have fish that lock on to rocks at night e.g purple fire fish as the worms can wrap around them and paralize them. I had an arrowhead crab to help get rid of mine and was quite entertained to watch him catch and eat them. Now I feel like a murderer!! My worms were pink/grey.

Did I do wrong?????
 
catpicklesdog said:
Now I'm really confused! I was told to get rid of any bristleworms as they are a pest, especially if you have fish that lock on to rocks at night e.g purple fire fish as the worms can wrap around them and paralize them. I had an arrowhead crab to help get rid of mine and was quite entertained to watch him catch and eat them. Now I feel like a murderer!! My worms were pink/grey.

Did I do wrong?????
Click to expand...

they are beneficial. but will kill venerable unhealthy or sick fish when there isnt enough food to go around. thats why u keep water quality prime, food sources excellent and the bristle worms under control with traps every so often or a natural predator that wont eat them all.
 
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