Bristleworm? Good, Bad or otherwise

[SoCalJake]

Seen this guy twice in as many weeks. I think he's the reason one of my fingers hurt after arranging the live rock.

Never seen the whole body, so not sure just how long it may be. It appears to be the only one.

Anyway, opinions?

 

[Dubbin1]

They are harmless and I'm sure you have many more lurking about.

 

[kkyyllee]

there a good part of ur cuc

 

[DrBCool]

I think they are good up to a point . I have a billion of them in my small tank and there are some big ones in there . I am looking to thin my population out a bit by use of a 6 line wrasse , which I am told will eat some bristle worms

 

[SoCalJake]

Thanks. This guy was a hitchhiker. I've heard some mixed opinions regarding their presence, so I thought I'd ask before I noticed too many of them.

 

[NeveSSL]

I don't know about harmless, dubbin1 (they sting! ), but I think they are good additions in general. Just don't go grabbin' at 'em.

Brandon

 

[BWine]

I've had my current tank running for 6 months now and I have yet to see any bristleworms in my sandbed. I was wondering if I should purchase some to add life to my sand bed.

 

[NeveSSL]

I'm thinking about adding some to mine as well. I'm probably going to do an order from ipsf... they seem to have a pretty good deal overall.

Brandon

 

[bbehring]

Coral banded ship prey on bristleworms. I have several in my fuge and display. All good here.

 

[Sk8r]

Your first specimen from a good reef shop will probably have a few.

 

[loosecannon]

Drbcool: The best thing for eating them, is Stenopus hispidus and, Pseudochromis paccagnellae.

 

[SoCalJake]

Thanks everybody. So the general consensus is don't worry?

 

[kkyyllee]

yeap, there good

 

[SoCalJake]

Good, because I just found another, on the opposite side of the tank.

Do they move around a lot or generally stay confined to the rock I see them on?

 

[kkyyllee]

they go in rock and sandbed

 

[bbehring]

they move around at night scavaging for detritus/food.

 

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10273378#post10273378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
I don't know about harmless, dubbin1 (they sting! ), but I think they are good additions in general. Just don't go grabbin' at 'em.

Brandon

Sissy

 

[reefworm]

Don't spend $$ for them if you can avoid it - it's actually amazing what some sources charge for them. LR from any source may well have some as hitchhikers, and/or if you know of a fellow reefer nearby, see if you can get some from them - offer to trade something to be polite. EXCELLENT scavengers! I used to trap them out of my tank, until some kind folks here filled me in. Just look at my BB name

 

[SugarFox03]

My tank has been set up around 14 months, and I saw my first bristleworm last night!! It was very small, about the diameter of a pencil lead from a mechanical pencil (maybe a little thicker...) and about an inch long.

I kinda like him.

 

[hubris007]

Re: Bristleworm? Good, Bad or otherwise

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10271423#post10271423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SoCalJake
It appears to be the only one.

Then i'd wager you've got hundreds. These are not something to worry about. They're just part of your cleanup crew.