hey i found a wierd orange worm with spikes on the edge of him i found him crawling on my zoas and was worried he was bad and tried t get him but couldnt due to the fact he hid in a cavey rock so i took the rock out and rinsed it with club soda took my three bottles to get him out you guys have any idea if he was bad or good i didnt wanna take any chances
a wierd hitchhicker
- Thread starter lordmbsa
- Start date
http://www.reefcorner.com/images/BristleWormPoor.jpg
thats him and i did notice my lil six line disapeared and my butterfly died so i think he was my lil problem
thats him and i did notice my lil six line disapeared and my butterfly died so i think he was my lil problem
J. Montgomery
Mouth Pipetting
I seriously doubt a bristleworm killed your 6-line or your butterfly. Though it probably helped to clean up the carcass after they had died.
chrisstie
Premium Member
Bristleworms are scavengers. At the most, in my personal experience, opportunistic, but really mostly just cleaners. If something goes by the wayside they tend to take care of it before it can spoil your water.
If your sps are bleaching and you've lost two fish I'd be wondering about your water quality and possible hidden pests that could be a problem. Granted, butterflies are hit and miss and overall difficult to maintain for long periods of time in a tank, but six lines are generally pretty hardy.
I do, however, recommend you dont touch the worm. I've accidentally gotten their bristles stuck in my fingers by over turning a rock or frag where they had hidden underneath and it isnt pleasant. If you do get stuck with them rinse with vinegar right away. Reminds me of a fuzzy cactus that sticks in you but you dont want the wound to get infected so clean it very well.
Tell us a little more about your tank? water? temps? bulb age? other inhabitants? Any clicking noises? Maybe we can brainstorm what may be causing that stuff.
If your sps are bleaching and you've lost two fish I'd be wondering about your water quality and possible hidden pests that could be a problem. Granted, butterflies are hit and miss and overall difficult to maintain for long periods of time in a tank, but six lines are generally pretty hardy.
I do, however, recommend you dont touch the worm. I've accidentally gotten their bristles stuck in my fingers by over turning a rock or frag where they had hidden underneath and it isnt pleasant. If you do get stuck with them rinse with vinegar right away. Reminds me of a fuzzy cactus that sticks in you but you dont want the wound to get infected so clean it very well.
Tell us a little more about your tank? water? temps? bulb age? other inhabitants? Any clicking noises? Maybe we can brainstorm what may be causing that stuff.
NanoReefWanabe
Active member
that pictured worm is a completely harmless poopavoir...and your sixline would have been feasting on them...i know since adding my 6line last year i have not seen a single bristle worm in my tank...
chrisstie
Premium Member
How about your tank temperature? Is it staying stable with a chiller or heater with the changing weather? Bulb age (I ask this because of how you describe some of your sps) Anything that nips at stuff but doesn't chow down on corals?
There is a name for those bigger worms and they do exist and can be harmful.. I want to say euclid worms? I'm unsure if thats the right term. Might want to research and see if what you had was a bristle worm or something more creepy and dangerous.
Also, Maroon clowsn can be suuuuper territorial. Maybe she had a part in the fish disappearances. Not going to say she outright ate them but they can slap a bite on another fish pretty easily.
There is a name for those bigger worms and they do exist and can be harmful.. I want to say euclid worms? I'm unsure if thats the right term. Might want to research and see if what you had was a bristle worm or something more creepy and dangerous.
Also, Maroon clowsn can be suuuuper territorial. Maybe she had a part in the fish disappearances. Not going to say she outright ate them but they can slap a bite on another fish pretty easily.
