Bristle Worm

[kodiak23]

I found what looks like a bristle worm in my tank, should I take it out? Well, its already out in a bowl, but if I see anymore should I take them out?

 

[rickyh24]

I keep them. Free cleanup crew.

 

[Grant W]

They are a good guy. I would keep them.

 

[Reef Bass]

Beneficial / harmless detritovore. Keep it.

 

[ScubaRaven]

Bristleworms: GOOD.... people who say brisleworms not good: BAD

 

[metalmulisha]

I'll say their bad once they get big. Whats big... I had one 8-9 inches long when I broke down the 120. They are scavengers but once they get large you better have gloves when moving rocks. Those bristles are no joke when on your finger tips.

 

[Berkeleyaquaman]

I pull the big scary ones, but leave the small ones. They eat the food that is leftover, and keep things moving along.

 

[rickyh24]

The worms I see in my 20g Nano/Seahorse tank are ridiculous. That's what feeding a Seahorse a few times a day will do.

 

[kodiak23]

Thanks all, it was the first one Ive ever noticed in my tank. I removed a frag of zoas from a rock to move to a different location and it was on the back of the frag plug. Since I ended up removing the frag for a couple minutes to check out the worm, I was able to make a new frag from the new polyps on the back and sides of the frag plug. Win win.
thanks

 

[northbay-reefer]

Don't let it touches your fingers when you work on your tank. Those little bristles will sting and stick to your fingers and it will hurts like hell so becareful with them.

 

[Berkeleyaquaman]

If you do get tuck by bristles, I use duct tape to get them out/off

 

[forextrader]

Make sure that it is a bristle worm and not a fireworm... they look very similar. Bristle worms are basically good earthworms of the reef. Fireworms are very bad.