help!

[-MillerTime-]

so i came home today and noticed a few what im guessing were giant bristle worms(5-6" long). Ive never noticed a problem with these before and have had my tank set up for some time. i caught one of them and killed it. Just wondering if there is a good method for getting rid of these guys or if i even need to worry about them. The only thing i have noticed is alot of my inverts(snails, crabs) have disappeared and heard somewhere that these guys can eat them.
any suggestions?

thanks

-Andrew-

 

[jtesdall]

Most I have read and heard opinions is they are a good thing. I had a little crash once because of some bad Cyano advice and a bristle ate my Clam. But the clam was very stressed from the crash. Currently I have bristles and a very healthy clam. Other opinions?

 

[-MillerTime-]

I have heard that too, thats why i wasnt sure if i should worry about them, theyve probably been in my tank awhile with no noticeable problems, im just always parinoid when it comes to something that can harm my tank,
thanks for the advice.

 

[Nykademus]

When they are small they are beneficial. When they get larger they start killing things.. at least thats what I have seen and read.

I have always found them to be an interesting addition and they do clean up denitris.

I have a six-line wrasse that keeps them in line. I dont know how one would do on larger worms though. You could just use a red or blue light at night and tweez them out... do NOT grab them bare handed. The bristles come off and will irritate your skin. Run hot water over the area if it happens. I also hear vinegar will neutalize and help disolve them (bristles).

 

[tibbs2]

From what I've read, your standard bristle worm doesn't have the mouthparts to eat live tissue. They usually only eat dead or decaying tissue. If you have a pic maybe we can verify that it is a bristleworm and not something else.

I think it was Atticus(?) who found a particularly vicious type of worm in his tank last year that was carnivorous.

Chris

 

[-MillerTime-]

i will try to get pics, but it was a long light brown worm, that had a buch of bristles all over it. it did look like it had two feeler like things on the head that might have been jaws. I just know alot of inverts have disappeared overtime.

 

[Coralfreak]

I doubt it is a major concern, snails and hermits tend to disappear no matter what. With that said, my rule has always been, if you are unsure or suspect something may be causing damage to your tank, get it out. If you have a refugium, you could always put it there.

Allen

 

[calebjk]

i have a coral banded shrimp that i keep in my refugium just to keep it clean, and i see him eating bristle worms on a regular basis. i've also seen arrow crabs eating bristle worms, however a lot of people have issues with arrow crabs eating fish too so you may come out behind on that one.

 

[Sk8r]

Your ordinary Bristleworms can't kill things no matter how big they get, because their mouth parts just can't do it. They slurp decaying matter, nearly liquid stuff, and can't bite. They are extremely valuable for a tank, and don't reproduce beyond their food supply. If you have 'too many' worms, cut back on feeding and you'll have fewer worms. They have smooth heads surrounded by bristles, and may be half black half red, orange, pinkish, or a variety of colors.

However, there are worms [Eunicids] that have 4 armored-looking tentacles at their head, and they're bad news. They are scavengers, I suppose, but if hungry, they go make some carrion.

 

[dastratt]

I would get a good photo and post in Dr Rons forum. But it has to be taken out of the water and both sides of it photographed though. I recently had a hitchhiker worm with bristles and Dr Ron IDd it as a fire worm. It was not safe because it had a carunkle on it (like a spike on its head). It was not easy to see it.

 

[-MillerTime-]

i havent had any problems with coral so i dont think its a fire worm, they are probably no big deal but i think i got all of the big ones i could find out. i removed the large rock they were staying in out of my tank.
Thanks to everyone that has been giving me advice