I saw a bristle worm in my tank

Atlanta Aquarium · 10-07-2006, 9:57 AM

I believe it was the bad kind. It had a feather like at the end of its mouth when it open to collect foods. What is the best way to get it out?

glxtrix · 10-07-2006, 10:19 AM

there are bristle worm traps, but Ive never used them. I always did well with tweezers and nighttime with a flashlight. Good way to use a light at night, cover the lense with a red film, critters really cant process the red light.

tsciarini · 10-07-2006, 11:28 AM

if youre going worm hunting it might not be a bad idea to put on some gloves too...

Atlanta Aquarium · 10-07-2006, 11:45 AM

yeah, I heard that some of these bristle worms pack some potent sting. Will Pseudochromis solve the bristle worm problem? If so, which of the Pseudochromis will do the best job?

tsciarini · 10-07-2006, 11:51 AM

if you don't know what species worm it is, you really cant get very far. The vast majority of the worms in our tanks are harmless (not to say that there cant be a bad one, its just not as likely).
The first thing I would recommend is to get a valid ID the worm, then find a solution after that point.

gwen_o_lyn · 10-07-2006, 11:59 AM

what color is it?

tsciarini · 10-07-2006, 12:01 PM

having a picture would be best... or finding a picture of one on the net that youre absolutely sure is the same worm.

Atlanta Aquarium · 10-07-2006, 12:22 PM

Actually I got two types of bristle worm. One looks like the Hawaiian lined bristle worm and the second one a brown-greenish body with feathery like feeding plume extended from it's mouth when feeding.

Does anybody have any luck with some wrasses or arrow crabs to cotrolled the bristle worm population? I saw in a picture where the arrow crab is shown munching on a fireworm. Some said that the arrow crab will feeds on all types of bristle worms. Is this true?

Atlanta Aquarium · 10-07-2006, 12:24 PM

How do you attach pictures with a post? I tried before but I got an error message saying that the attach file is too large. Well I thought most of the pictures files are large to begin with. Am I doing something wrong with my attach files?

dorian965 · 10-07-2006, 1:10 PM

here you go rit.
http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forum...ight=drag+drop

i just found a coral eating worm in my tank.the ones that grow to 20 feet. he ate up my large kenya tree.

Platyplakia · 10-09-2006, 4:38 PM

Someone at my local fish store said that a 6-lined wrasse would get rid of my bristle worms. He lied. I think that he just happens to move aoound the tank so much it keeps them at bay. At night they come out. and a couple of mine are big. So, if you get a wrasse to get rid of them don't try a 6-lined. I have seen several arrow crabs eating them at the Fish Store in Buckhead. I would just check on their compatability with other inverts, etc. Best of luck.

Schwaggs · 10-09-2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platyplakia

Someone at my local fish store said that a 6-lined wrasse would get rid of my bristle worms. He lied.

I have no doubt that many wrasses will eat bristle worms if they are hungy enough and the worms small enough. I heard humans eat liver and onions... not me... but if I were hungry enough, I would!

fishwhisperer · 10-10-2006, 5:37 AM

I heard humans eat liver and onions... not me... but if I were hungry enough, I would!
Ummmmm.....I would have to starve!

Atlanta Aquarium · 10-10-2006, 7:59 AM

Platy, seem like the crabs is the way to go but I'm very leary of them. They are scavengers. They may eat more things in my tank than I want them to.

mikem. · 10-10-2006, 9:32 AM

I had a six line wrasse that ate bristle worms. Unfortunately he committed suicide(left the top off). But then again I had a Lawnmower blenney that turned carniverous and quit eating algea and started eating my snails.

George · 10-10-2006, 9:43 AM

Banded Coral Shrimp are also voracious eaters of bristleworms when they can find them. I've always maintained at least one in my tanks for just that reason.

They are teritorial, though, so if the tank is too small for everyone to have their own territory, it could end badly for one of them.

Atlanta Aquarium · 10-10-2006, 9:54 AM

Yes, banded coral shrimps are very territorial. I found that out the hard way. Bought 4 pairs and now just only have one pair left. I have 265 gallon tanks. I thought it would be large enough for more than a pair but it turn out not to be so.

CGill311 · 10-10-2006, 10:59 AM

Two questions:

1) Are bristleworms harmful to reef stuff in the first place? I have a few in my tank but was never too concerned about it.

2) Would a banded coral shrimp kill a peppermint shrimp in a 30 gallon tank?

Atlanta Aquarium · 10-10-2006, 11:14 AM

Certain type of the bristle worm (the larger spicies) and the larger one will harm your reef tank. These guys will eat just about anything. Some said that they may even eat little fish. I never seen one doing it and don't want to find out.

Banded coral shrimp will eat the peppermint shrimp. They even will kill and eat the own kind. Banded coral shrimps are very territorial.

George · 10-10-2006, 1:46 PM

I wouldn't say they definitely will kill another shrimp. It is true that you should only have one banded or a mated pair, but no more. I have seen extended detente between a like-sized banded and a skunk. Not sure about peppermint. They seem to be the "victims" of the invert world, IMO.

For bristleworms, my general rule is that if I see it somewhere besides in the sand (where the beneficial ones are), it's gotta go.

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10-07-2006, 11:28 AM	#3
tsciarini 2008 BoD Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 2,601 City: Alpharetta State: GA Occupation: PACS Administrator	if youre going worm hunting it might not be a bad idea to put on some gloves too...

10-07-2006, 11:51 AM	#5
tsciarini 2008 BoD Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 2,601 City: Alpharetta State: GA Occupation: PACS Administrator	if you don't know what species worm it is, you really cant get very far. The vast majority of the worms in our tanks are harmless (not to say that there cant be a bad one, its just not as likely). The first thing I would recommend is to get a valid ID the worm, then find a solution after that point.

10-07-2006, 11:59 AM	#6
gwen_o_lyn Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 727 City: Cartersville State: GA	what color is it?

10-07-2006, 12:01 PM	#7
tsciarini 2008 BoD Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 2,601 City: Alpharetta State: GA Occupation: PACS Administrator	having a picture would be best... or finding a picture of one on the net that youre absolutely sure is the same worm.

10-07-2006, 1:10 PM	#10
dorian965 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 277 City: LaGrange State: GA Occupation: budweiser-sales/delivery	here you go rit. http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forum...ight=drag+drop i just found a coral eating worm in my tank.the ones that grow to 20 feet. he ate up my large kenya tree.

10-10-2006, 5:37 AM	#13
fishwhisperer Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 511 City: Marietta State: GA Occupation: aquarist Other Interests: bee keeping, scuba, bike riding..oh and of course my family	I heard humans eat liver and onions... not me... but if I were hungry enough, I would! Ummmmm.....I would have to starve!

10-10-2006, 9:32 AM	#15
mikem. Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 36 City: Dallas State: GA Occupation: Aquarium maint. tech. Other Interests: Horses,hunting, deep sea fishing, camping,drumming	I had a six line wrasse that ate bristle worms. Unfortunately he committed suicide(left the top off). But then again I had a Lawnmower blenney that turned carniverous and quit eating algea and started eating my snails.

10-10-2006, 9:43 AM	#16
George Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 44 Posts: 2,528 City: Staunton State: VA Occupation: Software Architect	Banded Coral Shrimp are also voracious eaters of bristleworms when they can find them. I've always maintained at least one in my tanks for just that reason. They are teritorial, though, so if the tank is too small for everyone to have their own territory, it could end badly for one of them.

10-10-2006, 10:59 AM	#18
CGill311 Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 900 City: Smyrna State: GA Occupation: Chemical Engr. Other Interests: Mt. biking, scuba diving, backpacking	Two questions: 1) Are bristleworms harmful to reef stuff in the first place? I have a few in my tank but was never too concerned about it. 2) Would a banded coral shrimp kill a peppermint shrimp in a 30 gallon tank?

10-10-2006, 1:46 PM	#20
George Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 44 Posts: 2,528 City: Staunton State: VA Occupation: Software Architect	I wouldn't say they definitely will kill another shrimp. It is true that you should only have one banded or a mated pair, but no more. I have seen extended detente between a like-sized banded and a skunk. Not sure about peppermint. They seem to be the "victims" of the invert world, IMO. For bristleworms, my general rule is that if I see it somewhere besides in the sand (where the beneficial ones are), it's gotta go.

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