Bristleworm overpopulation

[Barracuda1]

In my 40 gallon tank, I've got basicly an unhealthy infestation of bristle worms ranging from 100-150 full sized worms with countless babies. I bought a 6 lined wrasse 2 years back to control them, but he prefers fish flakes to live worms, and like reccomended, I reduced excess food in the tank but that just proved futile and how to make fish hungry. In the tank, there are also large numbers of other live food sources and at night when I feed my 2 fire shrimp, it remindes me of a riot because I put krill under a rubberband on a small rock so the shrimp would eat at their leasure, but litteraly, so many worms will pull on the krill, they pull the rock over to their holes where they eat at their own pace. I've been living with these worms for a few months and they haven't hurt anything including corals, but any suggestions on limiting populations besides trapping them would be helpful, thanks.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Arrow crabs eat bristleworms.

 

[Barracuda1]

how big of a worm could one consume?

 

[ptr13]

What other fishes eat bristleworms?I see them mostley at night,they tend to float up for some reason,trying to eradicate naturally.

 

[RokleM]

It sounds like you have other issues honestly. The population would likely struggle to maintain high numbers if there wasn't a readily available food source. I would examine your skimming and feeding process and possibly adjust accordingly.

 

[apayan]

I totally combated bristle worms in my tank. I would really recommend the bristle worm traps (used the coralife trap'em bristle worm trap). You have to set them about an hour after lights out, but be sure to check on it with a small flashlight after a little bit. Once you see them in there then grab the darn thing, open it up and get rid of the things. I did not believe this method would work but trust me it did!! I found one bristle worm the thickness of my pointer finger that was 10 inches long when I took a rock out for cleaning. This method will slowly weed them out and as long as you check the trap periodically right after you set it then you will be fine. Many people don't do this and they say the traps don't work, they really do. Also make the tank as dark as possible and set the trap no further than 1 inch from the hole you saw one at, that will really help to draw them out. I have no doubt this will really help you.

 

[dendro982]

Had the same problem, but the fish, that solved the problem, will grow too big for your tank fast, sorry - tassled filefish baby.
Maybe other, smaller fishes?

 

[reef321]

i got a coral banded shrimp for that