too many bristel worms

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8420699#post8420699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ophiuroid
As most of these worms are scavengers, the first and foremost thin you must do is address your stocking and or feeding rate. If you do not do this, then there is little point, IMO, in trying to manually remove them. Their numbers will just increase again.

I could not agree more.

A bristleworm `overpopulation' is ONLY possible if you've got food to feed that overpopulation.

I'd address feeding, export, and perhaps how much is accumulating in the rockwork/substrate before trying to kill them.

When I got my rock for my tank, from my wife's FOWLR - it had a scary amount of bristleworms. [frenzy after feeding with worms everywhere]
6 months of avoiding overfeeding, regular tank keep-up ... and there were a good amount of bristleworms [which I've found to be beneficial for the tank] but the overpopulation was long gone.

You don't need to kill them [nor do I think you want to] ... but you do need to stop providing so much leftover food for them to eat. They wouldn't be there in these #'s if there wasn't leftovers hanging around.

 

[Leo73173]

I would nt worry about killing them off except I have counted 5 worms of at least 8 to 10 inches long

 

[matter1331]

bristle worms get the worst rap in this hobby, more so than anything else I've seen. So many people are gung-ho to remove them without really understanding their purpose. Personally, I can't see having too many bristleworms. If some of you saw how many are in my 7 gallon you would probably freak, but I love these little guys.

 

[balmiesgirl]

at indo pacific sea farms the sell bristle worms! They say it helps your sand bed and makes more biodiversity in your tank.......and theirs are not cheap! I didn't order any though cause I have an anenome and I didn't want to risk him.

 

[balmiesgirl]

at indo pacific sea farms the sell mini-bristle worms! They say it helps your sand bed and makes more biodiversity in your tank.......and theirs are not cheap! I didn't order any though cause I have an anenome and I didn't want to risk him.