Bristleworms are the devil?

[75Gallons]

I went to my LFS and told them i was looking to get some bristleworms to help keep my sand clean and they basically look at me as if I were insane and told me to get a cucumber. I'm under the impression that cucumbers release toxic slop and kill your take off if they die so I'm not interested in having a potential timebomb in the tank. I dont' have $4billion worth of coral in my tank so I'm not worried about them preying on my livestock. I've read a lot of good things about bristleworms on reefcentral why do so many people act as if their the devil? Also I bought some LR that day and kinda hoped i would get some it but so far nothing.

 

[tankfly]

i've seen some pretty big ones in my tank come out in the middle of the night. I have never known mine to be anything but beneficial. I think you should be able to buy them if you want some. Are you sure you dont have them? You normally will not see them except at night.

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6716387#post6716387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tankfly
i've seen some pretty big ones in my tank come out in the middle of the night. I have never known mine to be anything but beneficial. I think you should be able to buy them if you want some. Are you sure you dont have them? You normally will not see them except at night.

they usually come as hitchhickers on LR, as stated above you have to be patient and look at night. if one did come with your LR, it may take time for him to be big enough for you to see.

 

[Aadler]

any good LFS should sell them to you, try a different store, maybe a mom and pop joint rather than a petco or something like that.

 

[brocsreef]

best way to know

best way to know

The best way to tell if you have any is to wait an hour or so and then take a flash light and shine it in the tank. They are pretty obvious after that. They can be harmfull though to some corals basically eating them from the inside out.

 

[Oceanblue]

Finding them

Finding them

I seen mine all the time in my 60 gallon by feeding my polyps. What i mean is if you have a turky baster spray a lil bit of food towards the rock and mine come out in droves to eat up the mysis or brine shrimp.

 

[mikeatjac]

They are one of the best things you can have in your sand and rock. You may have them in your tank but if not go somewhere to find them.

 

[75Gallons]

This LFS is really nice just kinda threw me off that they dont' sell them when i've heard so many good things about them. I was inspecting my rock and I see what looks like an earthworm hanging out in a loop but i can't see the tail or head end. So I'm hopeful that this may be one. Also there is petco opening up in my town soon do they normally sell SW livestock?

 

[75Gallons]

Also i leave my moonlights on at night do u think that would deter them from coming out?

 

[Lizard333]

Maybe A dumb question, and I don't mean to hijack a thread, but what is a bristle worm, and what do they do??? I have no idea what they look like either. Thanks..

 

[WaterKeeper]

Here you go Lizard Polychaete Annelids, read all about them.

Usually, even if you can't see them, they leave burrows in the sand along the sides of the glass 75. The moonlights shouldn't bother them unless they are overly bright.

 

[75Gallons]

Well the worm thing that I see on my rock is still hanging out so I do have 1 at least. It doesnt' have the setae bristles of a fireworm though. I took a few pics and i'll try to post them soon.

 

[aquawolf]

If you are looking to buy bristle worms, you can also check out the selling forum here under the Propagated corals and livestock. Some members sell them as parts of critter packs or refugium starter kits.

If you really want to know if it is a bristle worm or not, you can always try to pet it. Once you find out how that feels you will have no problem ever identifying one again. ;-)