bristle worms.

[jason_s79]

I have a large number of bristle worms (in the hundreds) in my 46g bow.
I have been told that this is a good thing, but in looking for more live rock online, just about everyplace claims part of the curing process is done to remove bristle worms, as they are a bad thing.
so now I'm confused as to what to do. are they good or bad? and if they are a bad thing how do I get rid of them?

 

[Anonymous]

Don't do anything.

I had hundreds in my tank in the months after I put a detrivore kit in there. There are not near as many left now, in fact the only time I see them is when I go moving around rocks I find them underneath.

Their population will eventually limit itself to the available food.

 

[fyrefysh]

My Peppermint shrimp treat small bristle worms like candy! If they see it, they'll snatch it up and make it a snack in no time. I know that Pseudochromis eat bristle worms too. If you see that many worms, I'm sure that there's plenty more in the rock. I'd say that they are a good thing to have in your tank though. :wink:

 

[rayman]

there not a bad thing

unless you touch one, it can leave a sting if you do

now if you find one thats rather larger say 8" - 10 " you might want to find a trap for them and get the bigest ones out

but there is no real need, they do NOT go after healthy living things, they WILL go after dieing or dead things


hope that helps some

 

[Omni2226]

I had a pot load of worms. Now not so many. I was watching my skunk cleaner shrimp...he pulled one out of the rock, but it got away.

I didnt think much about it till I saw him nab another one that didnt get away...it was UGLY what that shrimp did to that worm. So if ya have a bunch of little ones add a shrimp. Either the cleaner or a peppermint.

 

[jason_s79]

anything that will keep the worm population at bay and kill a ton of aptasia(sp?)?

 

[nyx]

peppermint shrimps will jason

 

[fyrefysh]

I second that and attest to that.

 

[Anonymous]

My clarki clownfish eats them when they are on the glass right after the lights come on. I guess it's a tasty meal.

 

[Anonymous]

I just got nailed by one last night. I picked up a rock without looking under it. :x It still kind of itches today.

 

[Rlumenator]

Every once in a while, my pistol shrimp SNAPS! When he does, I put a trap by the burrrow he shares with the shrimp goby. Almost always it results in a couple of worms in the trap. Coincidence?