Bristle Worm

[VxZillahV]

Hiya, I was walking by my tank tonight (after the lights went out) and out of the corner of my eye I noticed something pink in the front. At first I thought it was food that I happend not to have caught and cleaned out (my sorority sister accidently spilt a whole 2.4 oz thing of food into the tank and didn't tell me till Sun...it happend on Thansgiving while I was away) so I get my siphon ready to do some more cleaning and I notice it looks alot like a bristle worm just really pink and maybe only 2 inches long and thin, I thought it odd that it would be right out in front above the dolomite...I snatched it up within a second and flushed him down the garbage disposal, (I don't want to somehow pull a snakehead mess with a bristle worm and the toliet) so here is my questions:

If I had one of them, is it possible I have more?

What would be the best way to see if I have them? (does the red light trick work)

and lastly what other ways are there to catch the worms, I know I was lucky and I know the traps are a cop out to waste cash on

thanks so much for who can help
Monika

[VxZillahV]

Well this morning after turning on the light I noticed another bristle worm and after moving a few rocks to get at him with a pair of tweezers I noticed another one, chilling in a old snail shell, and one more (3 in total) also just chilling on the dolomite. I was able to catch two before one of my damsels brushed against my arm and scared me to death (I had just woken up!) so in the past 24 hours I have seen 4 bristles and removed 3.

Why is it so easy to catch these guys? Could they be dying because of the over shock and recycling of my tank (from the over feeding accident)

Any help would mean alot.
thanks
Monika

[phistio]

the red light does allow you to observe the tank at night without disturbing the inhabitants...

but why would you want to get rid of bristleworms???

[Todd Nicholson]

I wouldn't try to get rid of them. They come out at night and eat detritus from your LR and sandbed.

-Todd

[VxZillahV]

most of what I have read and seen in some of the mailing lists that I am on, states or people have said that they aren't good...I got rid of 13 of them, should I stop and leave the rest be?

[HoopsGuru]

Definitely keep them!!!!

Those little guys were actually working harding cleaning up the mistake of your sorority sister! It is old knowledge that they are harmful, inappropriately deemed so because they were often found snacking on dead fish, etc. Thus, they were considered the culprit for whatever died. Since then, it has become understood that they are only scavengers, and actually play an important role in the aquarium. Here's a pic of the largest of about 50+ in my 30g reef:

http://www.reefnut.com/Thumbnail%20Destination/images/BristleWorm_jpg.jpg

[Pineapple House]

I would definitaly keep them! It's just a myth that they will eat corals and fish, and will harm your tank. For the most part they are great grazers, eating left over fish food, detritus, etc. around the tank, completely harmless.

PH =)

[Blodlizrd]

Oh my God!!! That is the scariest Bristle Worm I have ever seen. Those things kinda creep me out. I have one in my tank that hangs out in empty snail shells.

[HoopsGuru]

Hey blod....it is about 9"....12"+ when stretched out looking for food. :shock: It has definitely scared the crap out of me more than once when rearranging rock and there you see it zipping through the holes in the rock in your hand!!!!

[Blodlizrd]

On my first read of your post, hoops, I thought you wrote scarred!!! :shock: I was thinking, "man I think I would get rid of it if it was hurting me." Then I re-read it and realized what you had really said. I guess I am still a little shaken up about Godzilla's brother that you have in your tank.

[VxZillahV]

what harm could these guys do if you happen to touch them...they can't split your hand open like the mantis or can they?

Monika

[Pineapple House]

what harm could these guys do if you happen to touch them...they can't split your hand open like the mantis or can they?

Monika
No, no...much worse! They can bite your finger off, and inject a poison that might prove fatel. lol, jk. Actually, They have a small row of hollow spikes down their back and sides. If you come in contact with these, they will break off, giving you a painfull sting, and yes it hurts. This is why another name for them is the "Fire worm."

PH =)

[HoopsGuru]

Having just experienced it with a baby a few weeks ago, I will try and relate the experience. It reminded me of those fuzzy cactus plants where you touch them, and the fibrous needles stick in your skin. This was accompanied by a bit of a burning/itching sensation. I imagine that obviously the bigger they are, the worse this would become. But rest assured, they really don't like being touched and often zip away if you don't sneak up on them. :wink:

[phistio]

this is from another post i responded to about bristleworms...

"while in the past bristleworms, and fireworms we're thought to be pests...they are getting a better rap...

first off, i think people thought they were pests because of the stinging sensation one gets when they touch them...ome of these worms are potentially quite toxic, and as such, if you discover a polychaete in your tank that looks like a "wooly-bear" caterpillar (like the Hermodice carunculata pictured here), please don't touch it with your bare hands!http://www.aquarium.net/0697/images/pic1.jpg

well, after that dire warning, i have to reiterate that the vast majority of polychaete species are at worst harmless to a reef tank, and at best beneficial in maintaining a healthy environment.

to get back on topic, you've just discovered a polychaete in your tank and you're concerned -- what is my advice? if they are not causing any damage, and are not very large or in high densities, you probably should not worry."

that being said...there have been a few cases of fingers having to be amputated off from infection from an untreated wound due to a bristleworm sting...ouch! :shock:

[Rosemary]

I am also a newbie at this fascinating hobby and I have just discovered an approximately 5 inch bristle worm hanging out on a newer piece of rock. I have been reassured after reading your remarks and am very grateful for the great info.

[phistio]

http://www.reefcentral.com/images/welcome.gif
to ReefLounge Rosemary!

hope you enjoy your stay!

now that you know you have a beneficial worm, just don't go rubbing it all over your face...lol...that might itch a little...just kidding...lol :wink: :lol:

[matrixnyc]

I also found 2 bristol worms on my LR, just wanted to know if I have to do anything to keep them happy? Or are they able to grow on their own.

Also where or how do they grow out of the live rock?

[phistio]

they should be able to hold their own...

[Pineapple House]

They likely will get most, if not all their food from left over fish food, algae, ditritus, and fish waste. Most come as grazers on the live rock, and will slowely reproduce.

PH =)

[killroysrevenge]

Alot of people confuse Bristle Worm with the Fire worm. I will be happy to take any bristle worm that you have off of your hands. They are a key ingredient in a reef tank IMO. You can actually buy them. If you have 1 you more than likely have 1000 of them.

[matrixnyc]

If you have 1 you more than likely have 1000 of them.

do you mean that theu multiply?

Or that there are so many that you dont see ?

[killroysrevenge]

They are in your rocks and all through out your substrate. They will multiply. I would not worry about it at all. They will eat all of the left over food in your substrate and so on... I have seen them as short as 1/2 an inch up to 3 inches or more long.

[GOLDSTRIPECLOWN]

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BRISLE WORM
AND A FIRE WORM IS ? ARE THEY DIFFERENT COLORS/SHAPES? I ALSO
HEARD THAT THEY MESS WITH ANEMONES. ALSO IVE HEARD THAT IF YOUR CORALS ARE DOING POORLY AND YOUR WATER CONDITIONS/LIGHTING ARE GOOD , BRISLE WORMS COULD BE THE
CAUSE IS THIS NOT REALLY TRUE?

[Samantha]

We used to have heaps of them all through our LR and ever since we got our little puffer he has enjoyed making meals of them and now i don't think there are any left, without them you really notice the difference in the LR, its growing this funny stuff all over it and we have had to clean the tank alot more often, there great little creatures and i wish we still had ours. :cry:

[Aqua Cat]

I have 2 large ones about (10 inch) and a small one,they come out if any brine shrimp is put into the tank and even flakes, they are the gray color.

the other type i believe stings much like a wasp,could be poisonous and the bristle will be injected in the skin like a bee sting and need too pulled out by tweezers !!! :roll:

[steve1s]

You will find most if not all the worms that come in via LR and other sources are completely harmless. All bristleworms will affect bare skin to some degree as the setae will actually imbed into the skin. Always a good idea to where clean rubber gloves when available.

You can read a great article on these creatures >>here (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.htm)<< . It will also help dispell some of the many myths you will find in this hobby.

Cheers
Steve

[guccidog]

some people have had allergic reactions to bristle worms somewhat similar to very very light reaction to a bee sting. but they are good for the tank especially if you have organisms that utilize calcium. bristle works release the calcium from what they are breaking down. so unless they are breaking down one of your corals they're good to have. if your worried, you can use them as an excuse to get another tank member. arrow crabs are known to eat the little ones.