Bristle worm

[Guest Nate and Roshni]

Late last night we caught a big one! YUCK!

[Sph2sail]

I have quite a few in my tank.  Good for the sand bed, if you ask me.  Under actinics, they can sometimes be quite flourescing.

 

I'd keep him in there...

 

s

[Grav]

Has anyone got any real reason to remove them?

[Guest clownfish4]

From what I understand, it's all a size issue.  Small ones are very good for filtration in DSB and I imagine the deeper your bed, the bigger you can have.  But if you have really big ones that are crawling out onton rock and corals and what not, I understand that they can be quite destructive.  So if you see really big ones out of the sand, you may want to keep an eye on them.

[Lee Stearns]

Other opinions from the seasoned vets? Like to hear any resons for concern and what might eat them if they showed up in the rock work as a pest. I see some poking out of my rockwork at feeding time- but have not thought them a problem- Are there two different species ones that live in rocks and ones that live in the sand bed? I have seen them in my rockwork many times some fairl large, but I never see them in the sand. In my 29g which is half CC substrate and half Sand bed- I have seen them in the CC side.

Thanks,

Lee

[Sph2sail]

My sense of this one is:

 

a. they are a natural part of the ecosystem.  hence they show up on LR and become citizens of the tank.

b. if you do not see them causing a problem, leave them alone

 

I apply this thought process to the various crabs in my system as well.  I have two big hairy crabs that normally would be considered a threat to corals.  They have done no harm, so I leave them alone.  If they do start to be a problem, throw them in the sump...

 

s

[michaelg]

There are many many many different species of bristle worms.  95% of them are detritus scavengers.  There are a few types that can pose problems.  That one looks harmless, are good for the system, and will reproduce--- though I have never seen them in plague proportions in any system.

[Aquariareview]

The jury is still out on Bristle worms, or Polychaeta, (= many bristles). Many reef keepers swear that these are the best scavengers around and many swear at these little guys.

 

They can get very large and the only bad things I have ever had them do was go after a dying clam and eat a leather coral fron the inside out (was an ugly coral anyway).

 

They do a good job at cleaning the left over food up and they are pretty good at cleaning up a dead fish that gets stuck in the rocks where you cant get to it.

 

I would say leave it in but watch to be sure that being good.

[Guest Nate and Roshni]

Hey guys, we took this one out. I have numerous bristle worms in my fuge and thats ok by me. We also have small ones too in the main tank. I know they can be good and i know some can be a threat. But the way i see it, i dont want a bristle worm thats 12 inches or bigger in my 55 gallon tank. I dont want to worry about a foot long worm getting any bigger in the future