Bristle worms - good or bad

[SlickSRT4]

What are the up's and down's of bristle worms? I've noticed a few in my nano tank and would like to know what should I do? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[chadfarmer]

good i have a magazine that talks about them


i have at least one in my tank that is over 14 inches long

 

[Sk8r]

They help break down poo that otherwise would not reach the filters or feed your corals. Good. They will sting you, but will not harm even the most delicate corals. If you ever see them appear to 'eat' a coral, it has a dead spot, and it is cleaning it, or cleaning away some edible dirt that has settled on it.

 

[SlickSRT4]

If you have one then there are certainly more of them. What I've read is that they can eat your corals and possiibly your inverts. What can be done? I know they make traps and I currently have a coral banded shrimp they feed on them but what more can be done if needed?

 

[bkh24]

GOOD. I have tons in my tank and no problems. They will only eat things that are dead or very close to dead as they are scavengers.

 

[Chelsey]

I think they're good, until they get stuck in on your fingers!

 

[stevecards]

They are good until you are cleaning out some of the filter media from one of your canisters and jab one deep into your index finger because you aren't paying close enough attention.

Or so I'm told anyway. I'd never make such a mistake myself.

 

[Spiffyguy]

I hope they are good I have tons.

 

[geoxman]

I hate them! JMHO

 

[Letmegrow]

They have no way of killing or capturing anything in your tank.
Best all around scavengers money doesn't have to buy.

If you did not have anything in your system to eat - they would not be there.

Perfectly harmless unless you want to hold them, caress them, and call them your own.

 

[JxMetal]

I think they're good. I got tons. One that's almost 2 cm wide and about 14 or 15 inches long.

 

[trottman]

when i got home today from work, i was moving some of my rocks around and i touched one of those flat red ones. there was like 60-100 little tiny hairs in my index finger... but they did not really hurt. mabe it is because i am so pain tolerant in that hand?

 

[DrBDC]

Some people will say they are bad and they have probably been in the hobby pre-1995ish. They used to be blamed for everything that ever went wrong with a tank. You could boil your tank and it would be the fault of a bristleworm! :lol:

 

[DrBDC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7821752#post7821752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trottman
when i got home today from work, i was moving some of my rocks around and i touched one of those flat red ones. there was like 60-100 little tiny hairs in my index finger... but they did not really hurt. mabe it is because i am so pain tolerant in that hand?

You've probably built up a lot of calluses on that hand. Try using lotion. :lol:

 

[chadfarmer]

i was going to post that but if i wrote it i probally would have got banned

 

[stlouisguy]

Dang Roy, you so beat me to the comment!!!!!!!!!!!!

I figured the nerves must be dead from carpel tunnel

 

[DrBDC]

I meant from carrying all those salt buckets while he's at work.

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7821752#post7821752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trottman
when i got home today from work, i was moving some of my rocks around and i touched one of those flat red ones. there was like 60-100 little tiny hairs in my index finger... but they did not really hurt. mabe it is because i am so pain tolerant in that hand?

Matt,

Switch hands dude... hairy palms...

 

[ol'saltybastage]

sorry to hear about your G/F trottie.. :strooper: :rollface:

 

[mjpelikan]

re: bristleworms (not trottie's ummm girlfriends)

I have only ever had one problem with them: I saw them eating my clam... I am not sure who got to it first, the blue legged hermits or the bristleworms, but they were both there. clam didn't last 3 days.