I think I may have got a bristleworm in my 20 on a piece of live rock that came with a sea mushroom I bought last weekend. I know that bristleworms are not a good thing, could someone tell me what they do and what I can do about it? Thanks.
Bristleworm...
- Thread starter QCppg
- Start date
i've got a bristleworm at the moment in my tank thats about 2inch's long its red with white legs i've only seen it once but i know which rock it lives in at the moment i've left it alone cause i read some where that they can be a good scavenger but they can also get quite big and there sting is supposed to be quite painful and i think it's arrow crabs that eat them so u could get one of those i dont really know if they harm anything...
Although there are species that will go after corals, most bristles that you see in tanks will just scavenge. Burrowing species are very important for your sandbed. My tanks have always had them, although I usually move anybody over 6" to the sump or mantis tank.
I've heard that bristle worms are beneficial scavengers, but if you get too many of them they will start to eat corals. I myself have always had them with no ill effects, but if they become a problem they can be controlled with hawkfish like the needle nose hawkfish.
They only eat dead or dying corals. They don't go after anything live. If you have to many that means you are overfeeding your tank.
Thank you! I had planned on getting one or two arrow crabs for my 55 gallon reef once that is ready for livestock anyways.
Other than feather dusters what kind of critters can't I keep if I get arrow crabs?
Other than feather dusters what kind of critters can't I keep if I get arrow crabs?
I'm almost positive arrow crabs are not reef safe. I have a hermit crab that needs to go. I've had him since he was a baby but now he is huge. He doesn't pick on my corals but he dulldozes through them.
Bristle worm control
Hello!
We have bristleworms in our tank, the only problem with them is that you have to watch out if you move your rocks at all... Depending on how much there is to scavenge, they can reproduce quite quickly and usually for every one you see there is at least 10 more that you dont. If they do start to overrun your tank you can "catch" them by putting a glass or plastic coke or beer bottle into the tank with some sort of bait in the bottom. (to rinse this out remeber DONT USE DAWN or ANY soaps as they can leak off into you tank!) Simply prop the bottle up on a rock so that its easy for them to go into but to steep to climb out of. This is easier and cheaper than buying a trap from the store. Simply let sit for a couple of nights, (undisturbed) and remove your worms. The other thing is that if you tank IS completly overrun with these guys you are probally giving them to much to scavenge on, thus they are thriving to well in your tank. In order to save you the hassle of food expenses,poor water quality and having to catch the little guys, look at your feeding methods.
Hope this helps.
lexi
Hello!
We have bristleworms in our tank, the only problem with them is that you have to watch out if you move your rocks at all... Depending on how much there is to scavenge, they can reproduce quite quickly and usually for every one you see there is at least 10 more that you dont. If they do start to overrun your tank you can "catch" them by putting a glass or plastic coke or beer bottle into the tank with some sort of bait in the bottom. (to rinse this out remeber DONT USE DAWN or ANY soaps as they can leak off into you tank!) Simply prop the bottle up on a rock so that its easy for them to go into but to steep to climb out of. This is easier and cheaper than buying a trap from the store. Simply let sit for a couple of nights, (undisturbed) and remove your worms. The other thing is that if you tank IS completly overrun with these guys you are probally giving them to much to scavenge on, thus they are thriving to well in your tank. In order to save you the hassle of food expenses,poor water quality and having to catch the little guys, look at your feeding methods.
Hope this helps.
lexi
Lol, I have scores of bristle worms and I don't think that they have ever caused a problem in my tank," other than being ugly little beasties." Most of them are harmless as Dave said. As skippy said They aren't reef safe and will eat, fish, other crabs, shrimp etc. They will eat some bristle worms but, it's sort of a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. The same with the hawk not only will it eat some of the worms maybe but, it will also eat other crustaceans like shrimp and small hermits.
The best way to control their population is to limit excess food in your tank. It's not as fact but it will work and generally increase the health of your tank/
hth
Chris
The best way to control their population is to limit excess food in your tank. It's not as fact but it will work and generally increase the health of your tank/
hth
Chris