bristleworms?

[glaze888]

I got some new rock today and found bristleworms in it. Is it ok to put them in my tank are do i need to take them out?

 

[brianjfinn]

I'm sure Jenn will chime in soon, but keep them. They're beneficial and help consume detritus.

 

[glaze888]

Should i go out and buy a coral banded shrimp to control them? Or should i let them roam free? Worried about my condy anem! Arent they harmful to them

 

[shrimpy brains]

They used to say Bristleworms were bad and would eat certain critters.
Old wives tale!
Now they are considered to be a benificial part of your cuc!
They won't eat anything that isn't already dead!

 

[hhughes]

I love my bristleworms. They really only eat anything that's already dead or dying.

I did once have a BIG one.... my guess was 24"... that was probably excessive, but he only came out at night and never bothered anything. I named him Grendel. I eventually sold another reefer some of my rock, and he hitchhiked his way with it.

 

[musicalocean]

Love that name very appropriate for a bristleworm

hhughes;535023 wrote: I love my bristleworms. They really only eat anything that's already dead or dying.

I did once have a BIG one.... my guess was 24"... that was probably excessive, but he only came out at night and never bothered anything. I named him Grendel. I eventually sold another reefer some of my rock, and he hitchhiked his way with it.

 

[smoothie]

musicalocean;535062 wrote: Love that name very appropriate for a bristleworm

Now we need a wrasse named Beowolf.
Sorry to hijack. Keep the bristles. They are benefitial. If they get out of hand it is from overfeeding at each feeding

 

[jennm]

The massive worm was likely NOT a bristleworm but some other kind (Eunicid, maybe - those eat softies, but they are rare versus regular old bristleworms).

Yes, love thy worms. Just don't pet them.

Jenn

 

[hhughes]

Jenn, Grendel had the exact same color pattern as a bristleworm, and had definite bristles. He was quite the disgusting critter, but I liked him lol. I'm guessing at 24" because he could stretch across the entire 20g tank and still have a bit of himself curled up. I don't think I have any pictures anymore unfortunately . And I'm no worm expert so you may well be right.

 

[jennm]

Could have been... the majority of them don't get that big but it's a possibility. If I had a worm that large in my tank, I'd probably give it a name too!

 

[jase75]

Bristleworms are not the prettiest things in a tank, but quite useful. Took me awhile to get used to idea of 'good' hitchhikers. I am still amazed at all came in my live rock.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

There is a fine line between a bristle worm and fireworm (which NEED to be removed). However, with 99.99999% certainty, I would guess you have bristleworms, which are fine, as stated. Fireworms are uncommon, relatively.

 

[bdesper311]

I have a footer crawlin around in my tank also... as Jenn said... worms are your friend