Is this worm safe? Please help fast

[mandm25254]

i just bought a bunch of cheato and i looked at the bag and saw a bunch of red/light tan worms that look to be some what hairy, they are about 1/4 of a inch in length (or smaller) are they reef safe? My assumtion is that they are bristle worms?

 

[zooxanth]

May well be bristle worms... some ppeps like them in their tanks, some don't... I think they are good scavengers and have never noticed any problems with them.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Do they look like this?

If so, yes - bristleworms - and they are a good thing (this variety, at least.)

If not, can we see a photo? Or, google for photos and post one that looks like it.

 

[mandm25254]

yes thats what it looks like maybe just a little shorter hair, but mine also look like babys compaired to that.

 

[tangdiver]

great detrieavore.....poop eaters,


Grant

 

[chort55]

Yeah they are good guys. Keep the tank clean I have a ton and some that are probably 5-6"+ w/o any problems

 

[Flipper62]

NO....THEIR BAD.... Get them out & send them to me.....LOL

Kidding.....they are really good for the tank, they are crap eaters.

The only thing is that they can get long & not look good in the tank. If this happens at that point just get them out & take them to your LFS.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

and NO touch when they get big...otherwise, you'll find out why they are called Bristleworms...and they will get big if unchecked...
six-lines should eat them

 

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15560703#post15560703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BurntOutReefer
and NO touch when they get big...otherwise, you'll find out why they are called Bristleworms...and they will get big if unchecked...
six-lines should eat them

Aaaa.....come on...Let him live & learn.......LOL

Kidding......dont touch them without Aqua Gloves.....Better yet, use tweesers.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

yup...I still remember my first 5 incher

 

[cartouche]

I remember someone posting a thread on here with a BW that he had a tape measure next to... damn thing was nearly 5 ft long! .. IIRC.

 

[MrHarvard]

They are great for your reef tank....Just dont touch them!!! They eat poop...The only bad thing is that they grow like crazy. If you think you only have a couple add 10 to your number and that is probably still only half of what you have....LOL

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

If bristleworms or other detrivores grow to plague proportions, don't blame them! Their population won't explode unless you've got a constant food source for them in your tank.

In other words, if they get out of control, your tank is too dirty. Feed less, clean more, blow rocks and substrate off with a turkey baster before water changes, etc.

 

[EnglishRebel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15561008#post15561008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cartouche
I remember someone posting a thread on here with a BW that he had a tape measure next to... damn thing was nearly 5 ft long! .. IIRC.

I think that was Melevs tank. He had to break the whole tank down to get that bugger out. I just don't like the look of them (which is why I will NEVER have eels in my tank. JMO. I used a bristleworm trap and caught two, three inches long.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

While melev might have had that problem too, IMHO the classic legendary case was weatherson on his 850g tank, which is documented on the oregonreef.com site:

http://www.oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

PS - don't click that link if you're squeamish.

(Seriously! you've been warned!) :lol:

 

[MarineMarty]

NASTY !!!

 

[sruiz]

check out this work from a local reefer:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1690554

 

[philipchan]

Well...?
I heard different, Bristleworms is not good for coral,
Bristleworms will eat coral and also clams.
If you have coral, or Clam, i suggest take them out....
Like what I'm doing, trying get them out of my tank, don't want my coral and clams gets bite

 

[bphelps81]

My tank was full of them at one point and my corals looking they were getting chewed up.