Bristleworms Are they trouble

[Underwaterrealms]

Hello,

I have in the past tried to keep Tridacnid clams in the past with no success and it seems to me bristleworms were the culprit. I have started a completely new reef ,with deepwater Tonga rock(nice shapes but not much life and very dense and heavy) and "dead" live rock from my old system ,and have had clams for several months doing excellent even smaller ones. But I have no bristleworms and have a neon dottyback to eat any smaller bristleworms to prevent a infestation.

I would like to start a new tank with Fiji rock in a 230 with a sand bed and would like to put on the same system and move corals back and forth for propagation purposes but do not want a bristleworm infestation.

What is everyone elses opinion on Bristleworms? Friend or Foe?

Chuck

 

[Squidman]

Friend. Clams are dead or dying before bristleworms eat them. I have plenty of bristleworms in my tank and have never had a problem with my clams. According to Dr. Ron, bristleworms don't even have the physical capability to kill a healthy clam.

 

[Flame*Angel]

I agree with Squidman. I have thousands of bristleworms in my tank and they have never bothered my clams or anything else. They are the best scavengers I have for cleaning up fish poo, left over bits of food and anything that dies (snails, etc.).

 

[firechild]

I third that opinion.
I have 4 clams (maxima and squamosas) and often find up to 20 bristleworms (mainly fireworms) under the squamosas but have had no problems with them damaging the clams. I think they just move under the clams like they would move under a rock.

 

[Trace]

And a fourth agreement. I have a fireworm that has been in my tank now for over a year. It came in a piece of liverock and stung the crap out of me when I tried to pull it out with some pliers. I also have 2 tridacnas in the tank that havent been touched. i think that If these animals were truely predators of clams, then mine would be gone as this worm is well over thirty inches long. I only see it about every other month, but there is no mistaking it. I will see if I can coax the monster out to take a pic

 

[mgk65]

And a Fifth!

No worries here with two maximas!

mgk