Bristle worms how many is too many

[davidandliz]

I came home yesterday to find one of my snails had fallen on its back in my tank so i turned him over. Aparently he was there for longer than i noticed because today i came home to find him in the spot i turned him back over in with about 20 bristleworms consuming him. which brings up the question How many bristleworms are too many for a system and will it cause any harm. And do i have to worry about acedently touching one? (boy i am so creeped out now)

 

[mbbuna]

most bristle worms are detrivores/scavengers so if you are seeing a lot of them you are over feeding or under filtrated. i wouldnt try to remove them but try to correct the problem and have there population decline on it own.

i have touched many a bristle worm and never been stung, but i wouldnt suggest doing it.

 

[davidandliz]

This is a fairly new setup for me we just bought the entire setup from someone and i think the worms were already there since its been only a week since i brought it home. If they are scavengers should i not just let them clean up whatever wastes they can? do they add to the bioload at all ? If they dont then other than being creepy they might help keep my levels from spikeing too much.

 

[Sk8r]

I had hundreds before my tank went down, and I wish I had them all back. They're great. You have something big die under the rocks, and they'll save your tank for you.

 

[davidandliz]

Awsome then seeing 20 isnt that bad. long as none try to get me we are cool then

 

[kaptken]

Yeah, the common part pink, part dark bristle worm is self regulating in population, depending on food supply. and they don't have stinging bristles. only a few, like the fire worm can be harmful to people.
http://www.reefimages.com/Worms/Worms.htm
as far as i know..

 

[Gordonious]

I think if you grab onto or pinch the most common bristle worms they will give you a nasty little sting, but I've had tons of them in my tank in the past and never been stung. I have a friend that works in a store down south that is terrified of them because he has been stung, he is a little wimp though.

I’ll agree with everyone else that they are great reef inhabitants. Many people will trade for them to boost there populations in their tanks. I would like to see less in my tanks because I’ve heard they can sting sea horses trying to hold onto something. I haven’t found anything solid that says they hurt sea horses before so it may just be rumor.