Bristle worms/ mantis?

[ck1]

I have a cycled 8 gallon BioCube waiting for my first mantis shrimp. I noticed that there is a bristle worm in the rockwork- which is minimal at this point.
Will a mantis eat a bristle worm? Just curious- as if I want to make the effort to get it out of there- I want to do it before I find my mantis shrimp.
Yes, I know that bristleworms probably have as big an undeserved bad reputation as mantis shrimp- but the worm is about 2 1/2- 3 inches- and it is only gonna get bigger.
I don't mind bristleworms in our big reef tank- but don't really care to see them in our nano's.
If a mantis is not likely to find this a tasty treat- I would prefer to get it outa there.
What do you guys think?

Julie

 

[Pea-brain]

Leave it in there. They are hidden most of the time and mantises can be messy eaters (Burying their food and hiding it) and the bristleworms will eat waste. I can't comment positively on whether or not it will eat it, but mantises that lose both raptorial appendages in the wild have to eat sof bodied animals like worms until they get their rapts back, and bristleworms may be eaten.....

Dan

 

[DanInSD]

I agree. It probably isn't doing any harm, and certainly won't hurt the mantis. If it gets Really Big you can always pluck it out with tweezers.

Dan

 

[ksrinlv]

I agree - I'd leave it.

 

[ck1]

OK, thanks for the advice- I will just leave it in there then.

Julie