Orchid drama

[ReefWidowed]

I noticed that my orchid had what i thought was popeye....I had moved the tank across the room, and my nitrates jumped because I stirred around some substrate.....since I couldn't catch the thing to treat with antibiotics I did a 40% water change.......well, for the 1st time today I got a close up view of the poor thing, and it's not popeye at all.....It got spiked really badly by a bristleworm.......does it stand a chance? Should I let nature take it's course, or try and remove it and take away the pain....I hate to do it, but I don't want it to die a slow and painful death either...

Opinions??

Thanks
Jennifer

 

[Aadler]

Ouch, how do you know its a bristleworm? Bunch of fiberglass like needles sticking out of it? If so you need to get a picture of that, sounds crazy.

I would guess if he isnt dead yet that he may be fine in the long run. If he keeps swimming/eating normally. If he stops eating then you can throw in the towel, but I would not prematurely take him out for a flush or some such ending.

 

[ReefWidowed]

yeah, bristles covering it's face, really cool, and really sad all at the same time, will try to get a pic, but it's doing a lot of hiding since it's hurt.

 

[ReefFreaks]

Ditto..

If he is eating, and otherwise acting ok, I'd leave him alone. Trying to pull the bristles out could damage him and lead to infection.

 

[Brad Black]

Wow, I have tons of bristle worms in my system, and have never heard of this! Pretty wild...hope the fish does ok. Definitely post pics if you can, that would be a good education for those of us who have never seen it. I don't need to start catching my bristle worms now do I? I have some very large ones and never a prob. I always read they were a good thing!

 

[CleveYank]

Other folks have found that bumping up vitamins and or garlic to aid resistance have helped with lateral line and such. IF their results were not coincidence then maybe that would help with this injury.

But, I would watch it on the big water changes to prevent added stress though. Daily little ones would be better if you have the time I would think.