Bristle Worm - Saltwater Aquariums

VxZillahV · **Bristle Worm -** 12-03-2002, 12:57 AM

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 · 12-03-2002, 09:10 AM

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 · 12-03-2002, 12:09 PM

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 · 12-03-2002, 01:47 PM

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

-Todd

VxZillahV · 12-03-2002, 06:48 PM

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 · 12-03-2002, 06:52 PM

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:

Pineapple House · **Awesome Britleworm Hoops! ;-) -** 12-03-2002, 08:41 PM

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 · 12-04-2002, 09:22 AM

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 · 12-04-2002, 03:24 PM

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 · 12-04-2002, 04:32 PM

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.