Do Bristleworms Eat Zoas/Palys?

[The Saltwater Kid]

Do bristleworms eat zoas/palys? I noticed 2 bristlewormswrapped around a frag plug which HAD 2 polyps of Purple Hornets on it lastnight but this morning they are gone L. I don't have any fishin my tank currently"¦just hermits and snails. I don't have any zoa eating nudi's or spiders...I've looked. It may be just a coincidence but like I said, last night before bed the polyps were still there and looked healthy (but closed) and today after scaring the bristleworms in they are gone.

 

[kichimark]

Never had an issue with bristleworms. Are yours small or are they "fat" and big? I believe fireworms can cause problems with corals and to me they look like a small bristleworm but on steroids.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Nope, definitely not fireworms...they are smaller/thinner.

 

[KafudaFish]

Could the worm have dislodged the 2 polyps?

Sometimes they happen to come detached and the worm could have finished the job.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

I guess it's possible but they didn't look unstable the last time I saw them before bed.

 

[650-IS350]

The polyp was probably disintegrating or dissolving so the worm just did its janitorial business.
Unless you have a bobbit or eunicid worm ( Would be terrible )
http://vimeo.com/28280553
http://www.realmonstrosities.com/2011/11/bobbit-worm.html

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Definitely don't have any of those...thank God!

 

[terrypercula]

Btistleworms get a bad reputation. Frankly I've never seen one do any real damage. Good cleaners though.

 

[A. Grandis]

The polyp was probably disintegrating or dissolving so the worm just did its janitorial business.
Unless you have a bobbit or eunicid worm ( Would be terrible )
http://vimeo.com/28280553
http://www.realmonstrosities.com/2011/11/bobbit-worm.html

What a video!!!!!!
Thanks for posting.

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

Yes, bristleworms could take advantage and eat weak/hurt/damaged/fragged zoas! They are opportunistic and will do their best to find food in your closed system.

Bristleworms aren't that good! They do scavenge, but it's not worthy to take the risk.
Some species just grow too much and besides that, even the small ones can hurt you during maintenance. Not worthy, not needed for a successful system anyway.

Just my .02 on the subject!

Grandis.

 

[leveldrummer]

polyps are probably drifting around in the tank, or wedged under a rock somewhere.

Ive had hermits/bristle worms/other animals knock a small frag of zoas off a frag plug, and I find it later sitting somewhere, and I fish it out and glue it back down to a rock.

Look around and see if you see the polyps somewhere.

 

[Rbs07fxstc]

Polyps might of had an issue before worms were near it. I've never seen a bristle munch on my corals unless it already was dying off & the dorm was just cleaning waste off around it. Bristles get a bad wrap for just being clean.

 

[ganjero]

If you have a fireworms (Hermodice carunculata) they can eat your polyps, rare in aquariums but you can get them if you gets stuff from the Atlantic ocean. They could look similar to harmless bristleworms. Firs pic bad worms second pic Good worms