bristleworms

[Malice229]

could someone please tell me if bristleworms are good or bad. I do not have a picture of the one in my tank but I have identified it as a bristleworm thanks to the many pictures posted in the galleries.

I would just like to know if it is something I need to take out. It is quite long and skinny... actually gross!

thanks!

 

[tblue]

Kind fo difficult to say, without actually seeing it, but I have never removed mine from my tank. The just scavenge through the sandbed an din the rocks......never ad any troube with the ones in my tank.

 

[XeniaMania]

They're scanvengers but a nuisance to owners since we can get pricked by their bristles. I don't mind the small ones, it's the ones that are 7inches long and about 1/2" wide that give me the heebie geebies. I use to "flush them out by leaving my live rock out overnight. They'll come out searching for water, only to be stranded on the rock.

 

[tblue]

Yeah.......I don't think I would like those either. Mine have never made it past 2"......not that I've seen anyway.

 

[Malice229]

thank you both. i have a small tank so it is devastating to me to take those rocks out... i hope it doesnt become a problem

 

[XeniaMania]

I don't think 1 night will affect your tank adversely, however, it is your tank so you get to do what you feel is best.. BTW, your tank is bigger than mine..

 

[Malice229]

no one night wont affect it, but honestly its a pain in the butt to take everything out and then put it back! i have had to do that before to take a tang out that i put in which was small and my take was destroyed because catching her was a misson... i could never put everything back like the first time...

i guess i am traumatized

 

[XeniaMania]

LOL...ahhh..yes...aquascaping is an art in itself. My gf sat thru it one time with me and all she could say was "I'm amazed at how much patience you have.." Not that I'm still encouraging your to do it, but for me, I've learned to section off my rocks so they don't lean on each other too much, like currently with my tank, I can dissassemble 4 rocks and 2/3 of my tank would be out with 2 more pieces remaining. Then I can just assemble 2 more pieces, then the last 2. I've torn down this 20 at least 10 times within 2 years.. Twice in 1 week recently too to catch some fish..lol.

 

[Malice229]

beauty is a mission I tell you... just thinking of taking all that out annoys me. I am going to keep an eye on that creature. it is so ugly that honestly I cannot stand to see it in there when I do see it. I guess one day I will get really annoyed an attempt to take it out

 

[XeniaMania]

I wouldn't say annoyed, but a change of scenery is nice once in a while.

 

[Malice229]

I didnt see that point of view!!!

 

[XeniaMania]

just pointing out another reason why you may wanna take the rocks out..that's all..

 

[XeniaMania]

oh yeah..btw...the bristleworms are pretty fast in the water. I saw a swimming one in my sump the other day..*shivers*

 

[xtrstangx]

They are good. One of the best detrivores for your tank.

They are kinda creepy though.. I pulled a 6" rock out of my tank the other day and a 9" bristleworm jumped out into the water.. good thing my mom didn't see it or she'd never feed the fish for me again (her contribution to the tank, including making it (stinky!)).

 

[XeniaMania]

*shivers*

 

[IslandCrow]

Those things do get creepy. My father's tank has at least a hundred of the things crawling around. Of course, he never does water changes, never replaced his skimmer and tends to overfeed. In other words, they had a plentiful supply of food. I managed to snag some of the bigger ones, but I doubt I really made a dent in their population.

Speaking of which, if you do decide to remove the things, be sure to use tweezers or wear gloves. Their bristles can get into your skin and cause problems. Fortunately for me, I seem to be immune, though now that I know, I'm not planning to test that theory again.

 

[tblue]

If you have never seen it before....check out www.oregonreef.com and check out the "Worm Incident" I am sure that I will never have a bristle worm that size in my tank.....at least I better not.

IslandCrow: I see your in Crestview... My wife and I lived just south of I-10 until a little over a year ago. Still have to go all the way to FWB to find a Salt Water store?