Whiterabbitrage
New member
What's the best bait?
Help catching bristle worms
- Thread starter Whiterabbitrage
- Start date
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
I heard squid makes good bait. They are harmless you know just don't touch them.
Whiterabbitrage
New member
I'll try squid, thanks. And yes, I heard they were harmless and made great CUC. Unfortunately both my firefish are running into them. Firefish get scared and bolt for the nearest cave and the worms, about 8" long, get in the way. Firefish end up with a face full of spines. They haven't been blinded yet but I don't want to take that chance. Am having a difficult time trying to trap the bristle worms and thought a change of bait would help.
Thanks!
Thanks!
reduce feeding to a bout 1/2 for about a week, turn of lights on 8 day, put a clear glass jar in with hole cut out in the top and a silverside inside near their den, check in a couple of hours to see what you get.
Whiterabbitrage
New member
Thank you! I will try this next.
Wish me luck. So far these inverts with no brains are outsmarting me.
Wish me luck. So far these inverts with no brains are outsmarting me.
Whiterabbitrage
New member
It's not working. What am I doing wrong?
The cup is about 3 " deep. It's buried in the sand near the bristleworm rock. That way they can crawl into the cup easily, but once inside they ( theoretically) can't get out. I use a little shell to hold the bait so it won't float away. I'm feeding the tank less, so they've got to be hungry so why aren't they going for the bait? I place it just after lights out so the fish don't mess with it.
Is the cup too deep? Even the brittle stars aren't going in. Only pods.
I haven't seen any full grown bristleworms since one came all the way out and I grabbed it with forceps but it got away. Dont tell me they are being cautious now?
The cup is about 3 " deep. It's buried in the sand near the bristleworm rock. That way they can crawl into the cup easily, but once inside they ( theoretically) can't get out. I use a little shell to hold the bait so it won't float away. I'm feeding the tank less, so they've got to be hungry so why aren't they going for the bait? I place it just after lights out so the fish don't mess with it.
Is the cup too deep? Even the brittle stars aren't going in. Only pods.
I haven't seen any full grown bristleworms since one came all the way out and I grabbed it with forceps but it got away. Dont tell me they are being cautious now?
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
Just give it time.. lots of time.
Here is a good trap for bristles that most reefers use.
That or my peppermint shrimp
Here is a good trap for bristles that most reefers use.
That or my peppermint shrimp
Whiterabbitrage
New member
Thanks!
Pdxile
New member
Bait them with an algea wafer (they love them) and quickly grab them with long tweezers. It helps to scream as you do this. I don't know if it actually helps you catch them, but it works for me. Try not hyperventilate with fear or you will pass out, drop the worm and it might crawl under your bedcovers. Under no circumstances flush it down the toilet or it might crawl back up. Did I mention the screaming?
or if you've reduced feeding enough they'll eventually disappear besides some of the big ones, most of the small ones in my tank have disappeared, and its only several that I could see now instead of dozens.
Whiterabbitrage
New member
So thaaaats the secret! Thanks. I have been holding back on the screaming.
I will try algae wafers and screaming. :uzi:
The only time grabbing them works is when they leave the rocks, and they seem to have ' learned' not to do that. :angryfire: when they are on the rocks even a bit, they manage to get away from every grab. Don't know how they do it.
Hmmm.... Disposal of evil worm... You say don't flush it and don't drop it, so how about I mail it to my ex?
Whiterabbitrage
New member
Can't reduce feeding too much because there is plenty of other life down there. The white micro brittle stars would not be easy to replace. I'd love to starve out these trouble making worms but its not an option. Yet! However if these traps don't work I may have to take your advice. Guess I could just catch as many micros and brittles as I could and move them to the QT. thank you for letting me know how well it worked or you. I am still finding baby bristles. :Uzi:
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
Grabbing them can also rip them appart.. creating two worms..
If you promise not to point at me for giving you this info... fill up 1/4th of a water bottle and ship it to arrive as soon as possible to the ex :thumbsup:
You can also rip them many halves before shipping to the ex as well
Whiterabbitrage
New member
Those evil worms outsmarted me again!
I saw three big ones last night. One went 90% into the trap and sat there teasing me.
After he was done taunting me he backed out and hid in the rocks. :mad2: arrrrg!
Will try building the pop bottle trap tonight.
Why are these guys so smart?!
I saw three big ones last night. One went 90% into the trap and sat there teasing me.
After he was done taunting me he backed out and hid in the rocks. :mad2: arrrrg!
Will try building the pop bottle trap tonight.
Why are these guys so smart?!
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
Whiterabbitrage
New member
I bought pantyhose especially for that. The micro brittles got caught but no worms.
What makes it worse is that when the fish get fed the worms will sometimes make an appearance. Three fourths of the way out of their rocks, sitting there, watching. Laughing.
Then they go back into the rocks. This is in broad daylight!
I rented an Arrow Crab from the LFS to take care of the problem. I put some bait out to bring the worms out so the crab could grab them. They came out alright. That crab was surrounded by 5 worms. The crab picked up the bait to eat it and the worms started to follow him around. One of the worms was actually eating the bait right out of the crabs claw.
:headwally:
What makes it worse is that when the fish get fed the worms will sometimes make an appearance. Three fourths of the way out of their rocks, sitting there, watching. Laughing.
Then they go back into the rocks. This is in broad daylight!
I rented an Arrow Crab from the LFS to take care of the problem. I put some bait out to bring the worms out so the crab could grab them. They came out alright. That crab was surrounded by 5 worms. The crab picked up the bait to eat it and the worms started to follow him around. One of the worms was actually eating the bait right out of the crabs claw.
:headwally:
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
Throw copper in the tank that will get rid of them :lmao:
Similar threads
