Bristle Worm on the loose

[shimmy411]

I have had a bristle worm in my tank for about 4 years. I have tried to get him out with tweezers, and started to use a trap and no luck. the other day it killed my purple fire fish. know its time for revenge. How do I kill this thing?
any ideas would be great.
P.S Its bigger than a pencil.

 

[AJSTITAN14]

Did you witness the predation or did you just find the worm eating the fish?

 

[sedor]

I've never heard of a bristle worm killing a fish. I've seen worms over a foot long that are harmless. However, if you want to get rid of it look up "bristle worm trap" your going to have to bait it with something and i'm sure a search with turn up a lot of different designs. They are quite easy to make.

 

[shimmy411]

the fish had the bristles sticking out of its head and eyes.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

The worm was probably just cleaning up. Bristle worms, and even fire worms won't eat fish.

 

[LeslieH]

Slight correction -- they don't prey on live fish but if there's a dead one or an injured one with necrotic tissue they will definitely go after it. They are scavengers after all! I've even read reports of fisherman pulling up their lines & finding fireworms clamped on to the dead fish bait.

 

[dalston]

I agree with most everyone else...the likely scenario was the fish died of other causes and the bristles were just doing their job by cleaning up the carcass.

 

[shimmy411]

the fish was was fine until it was swimming around a for few days with the bristles sticking out of him.

 

[Tennyson]

I agree with everyone else on this. Even if the purple firefish died from these bristles its likely because he was going around in the rocks and ran into the worm. Its not the worms fault really they don't try to ***** other fish.

As for catching/killing one, I like putting something that smells really "good" to them like gulf shrimp or silversides and if they're really hungry they'll come out to eat it, giving you a chance to catch it. But that's just me a trap might be best.

 

[Arthurjc]

I know it’s not a fish but I have seen one sting a cleaner and like 30 more come out of a rock and start eating it during the day. That was kind of crazy.

 

[homeagain]

I have never seen them bother any thing that is a live but when it's dead they will eat it hope my bristles worms don't go on a killing spree

 

[dg3147]

I heard a stocking stuffed with something tastey is the way to go if you really want to get rid of it.

 

[Tommy5000]

I must admit I like the idea of a killer worm roaming around preying on fish (imagine earthworm jim in your fish tank) but I think it unlikely. What I have seen though are fish that try to eat the bristle worm. I have a Blue Blanquillo that likes to litterally dive into my sandbed and some times he comes up with a tasty bristle worm treat that he munches down (though it looks painful lol). Maybe your tang thought the worm was on the menu but then found out the bristles were not his cup o tea.....maybe even led to his untimely end?

 

[ehren78]

I have hundreds of Bristleworms, if you want to bait him you must turn off all your pumps so there is no current in the tank, then feed. easier to catch him when he's not holding on to the rock with the other end of his body. With the pumps off it'll let it's guard down so to speak then you can tweeze him out. Good luck