FAQs about Bristle/Fireworms
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Related FAQs: Bristle/Fireworms 2, Bristle/Fireworms 3, Bristle/Fireworms 4, Worm
Identification, Polychaete Identification, Polychaete Behavior, Polychaete Compatibility, Polychaete System, Polychaete Selection, Polychaete Feeding, Polychaete Disease, Polychaete
Reproduction,
Related Articles: Worms, Polychaetes, Flatworms/Planaria
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Pods/Bristleworm population out of control 9/27/05 I
have too many amphipods and bristleworms in my tank. I need
suggestions of a fish/invert for my 55Gal that are peaceful, relatively
easy to keep, and will eat all/most of these critters. <Too many
amphipods? That one I haven't heard to many times before seems like
most folks want more 'pods. As for the bristle, there
are a few undesirable pests in this category, however most are harmless
detritivores. Seeing an overabundance of bristle worms is
likely a nutrient problem. Too many nutrients cause them to populate at
a faster rate. There are many ways to control this via water changes,
refugiums, efficient protein skimmers and so on. As for biological
means of control (I must say I'm not a fan of this) there are many
creatures that will hunt down 'pods. As for the bristle worms the
coral-banded shrimp and arrow crab are touted to be the best for this
but I find both to be somewhat of a risk to smaller
inverts/fish. A six-line wrasse would help out with both the
pods and the worms but without your tank size/stocking list I'm not
sure you have room for it.> Thanks, mike <Anytime, Adam J.>
Mystery Worm Hi Bob. I am seeking help with a
problem that has just occurred with my saltwater fish tank. There is
some type of white worm like thing crawling on the inside glass. I have
never seen anything like it in my life. I don't know what they are
or what to do about it. Please respond promptly I am at great concern
about my fishes well-being. The only thing that I think its from is the
live brine shrimp that I fed them. Please help me!! Thanks Laura
<This "mystery worm" sort of query is very common... and
my/our stock response is not to worry... very likely this is a
transient population of innocuous Errantiate polychaete
"bristleworm" species... that are more beneficial, benign
than trouble. Please read and follow the links here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bristlewrmfaqs.htm Bob Fenner>
Fireworm Natural History Notes Hello, I am
sorry to disturb you again, but I was wondering if you could tell
me some of the feeding habits and the habitat/biome of the fire
worm I would really appreciate it Thank you! <Well, there
really isn't one "fireworm" but a few hundred
species... most are predatory on smaller invertebrate life... and
though some are tube-dwellers, the vast majority are free-living,
burrowing in sand, mud, hiding between rocks by day... Bob
Fenner>
Bristle Worm Studies Hello! I am doing a
project on the polychaete worm and I need your help. I have been
looking for, but cannot find, the scientific name ( KPCOFGS) of
it. If you could send it to me or tell me where I could find it,
I would really appreciate it! Thank you <Hmm, there are
thousands of species of Polychaetes... don't know the
symbolism you are using... could you offer more input? My general
coverage of these ill-reputed (though most are beneficial to
benign) annelids is posted on our website: www.WetWebMedia.com
under the section "Worms", "Bristle Worms"...
Bob Fenner>
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Success <removing the
polychaete worm that ate Detroit> Bob, I wanted to let you
know that I captured the worm mentioned in the post below. I use a
glass pipette that is 12 inches long with a piece of fish in the
far end. It was about 15 inches long stretched out. I identified
him on the internet as a Glycerid polychaete worm. Thanks for your
help! <Zounds what a monster! Have a close up image of a worm of
the family Glyceridae at home... taken in the blasphemous college
years... blown up with the statement: "God is a
Polychaete" below... take a look at the head on this thing...
multiple eyes, jaws...> I have an unusual creature that came on
my Walt Smith Fiji Rock. It looks like a tridacnid clam or a
tunicate or tube worm of some sort. It is solid deep blue/black
with an inhalant and exhalent siphon. It's about a 1/2inch long
and 1/4inch wide. It has fleshy mantle (like a tridacnid clam. It
is embedded in the live rock and will retract into the live rock
when startled. I can see jaws or a shell of some sort close
together when it retracts. The fleshy mantle comes out both in the
day and at night. Do you have any Idea what this might be? The
fleshy mantle comes out both in the day and at night. <Hmm, not
much to go on here... it doesn't move around? Likely some sort
of stinging-celled animal... but this doesn't say much...
I'd leave it be and see what develops. Bob Fenner> Thanks
again Bob, Tom Hettleman
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Bristle Worms? Bob, Hello,
I hope you are doing well and having fun with your many adventures.
<Yes, but never enough time for all...> I have a quick
question for you that I hope won't take to much of your time.
<Ah, good> I recently set up a new reef system (Berlin
method) with 50 lbs. of Walt Smith's Fiji live rock that I
purchased from FFE. The rock cured and all is well except that last
night when the lights went out, a turbo snail comes hauling-tail
from around the corner of a piece of rock with a thin reddish worm
(4-5 inches long) hot on it's heals! The worm looked like it
was trying to bite the snails butt. I jumped up and ran upstairs to
get a pair of tweezers to catch the worm but, I was too late. The
snail jumped off the rock and ran across the gravel and the worm
went back under the rock and in a hole. <Neat. Sort of
sounds like an "Invertebrate Thriller" chase scene...>
The snail looked OK and began eating algae on the gravel/tank glass
edge. Later on I saw the worm eating a copepod. I wasn't able
to catch him. <Take a look at this months (March) issue of the
hobby magazine, FAMA. Bob Goemans gives some solid direction on how
to build, operate "worm traps" for marine
aquariums...> My question is: Was this worm trying to catch and
eat the snail or was it defending it's territory?
<Probably the former> I am very concerned because this is a
reef tank and I want to keep hardy soft and hard corals and clams.
I currently have a small six-lined wrasse, an algae blenny, a royal
Gramma, mix of Astrea and turbo snails and a few scarlet reef
hermits. <You might need/use a couple of Peppermint Shrimp... a
temporary "enforcer" like an Arrow Crab... these are
detailed on the site: www.WetWebMedia.com> Should I try and
catch it or leave it be? What is the best way to catch them? <A
tube or whiffle ball with meaty foods inside, covered by fish line,
jammed with Ehfi-Fein flocken (polyester filter media Eheim
offers)... or their Grob flocken for larger animals... See the
former citation> I also noticed a large bristle worm in one of
my rocks. It is whitish / gray in color with tufts of white
bristles on its sides. It is some what flattened and thick. I would
guess it is at least 5 inches long but, it only comes out a few
inches from its rock. Is this also a bad worm and will it hurt
anything in my tank? <Too likely yes... large Errantiate
polychaetes are too often bad news...> I put a piece of fish
inside a stocking next to it's hole and it didn't touch it.
Is this a good method to catch bristle worms. <Perhaps a baited
trap (the all plastic ones sold by warehouse home improvement
stores for small rodents, resold w/ the label pulled off for a few
times their cost in the pet-fish interest...)> I know there are
thousands, if not millions of species of worms out there. Since
your are very familiar with rock from Fiji, especially from Walt
Smith, I thought you might know the disposition of the more common
worms that come on Fiji live rock. HELP!!! Thanks for your help.
Tom <There are zillions in total numbers for sure... would gross
out everyone, but I have photos of a few inches deep of these worms
that "wriggle", "rinse" out at Walt's in
their involved cleaning process... of a certainty they
don't/can't get rid of them all... most are innocuous, even
beneficial... the larger species, specimens are to be avoided,
eliminated. Bob Fenner... as stated above... with traps,
predators.>
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Help to understand worms
We had a problem with bristle worms in the past, and to tell you
the truth I don't like them!! To get the problem resolved we
had bought a coral banded shrimp, she did a wonderful job of
getting rid of the problem, however she also ate my cleaner shrimp,
large yellow tang, and our Naso tang. <Really? A Coral Banded
Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)? Hard to imagine... this is generally a
much easier-going species... Maybe you had an Arrow Crab
(Stenorhynchus)... these can get very predatory...> We just
purchased a lemon peal angel, pearl angel, as well as another
cleaner shrimp for our tank. I am afraid to place the new cured
rock into our tank due to seeing some worms some red, others red
and black coming out of the rock. I don't want to infect our
tank again with bristle worms, are these worms good or bad that we
are seeing? <Not able to tell at this juncture, or from my
desk... there are thousands of species of bristle/Errantiate
polychaete worms... most are beneficial to innocuous...> Should
I use the rock or through it away? It's about 25lbs and the
coral bandit we just got rid off so it wouldn't eat the new
fish. <I would use it... and if there are some larger, more
predaceous types... look for other competitors, worm-eaters (a
range of Wrasses is best) to challenge them... or traps or outright
baiting for removal of the largest ones. Bob Fenner>
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Bristle worms Mr. Fenner,
I have very much enjoyed your book "The Conscientious Marine
Aquarist". I am appreciative of all the research you
have done in order to supply such valuable information to
marine enthusiasts. I just had a quick question for you. I
have a small reef tank with a couple fish, a bunch of
invertebrates like zoanthids, and some small bristle worms.
In your book on page 365 it shows a picture of a bristle worm
and mentions that they will attack corals. I'm pretty
sure that they are attacking my zoanthids since less and less
seem to open, and some are lacking tentacles. What do you recommend
to get rid of the worms? I notice that they are active at
night, so are there any nocturnal predators that feed on
them? Thank you very much for your time, and any input would
be greatly appreciated. Aaron Waite. >> Thank you for
writing, and your kind encouraging words. As you will know, there
are many (thousands) of species of these "bristle
worms"... with most being innocuous. The larger, more
predatory types (or aquarium specimens), in good numbers can be
trouble... and of course it's important not to introduce
"something" more trouble than the worms themselves...
Without knowing what your other livestock are, I suggest either an
Arrow Crab (these can get large... trouble themselves, a species of
Lysmata or Stenopid shrimp, or one of the wrasses of the genus
Pseudocheilinus... and do take a look at the materials stored on
our site: Home Page for more on these choices, issues. Bob Fenner
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Polychaete annelids When you said this
would be a long read you were not joking were you !!!!!!!! Who
would have thought so many different people would write so much
on worms? I do have a question for you though,,,,something I have
not found discussed yet. How do you introduce spaghetti worms to
your tank? I would like your opinion on proper acclimation
techniques, do you bury them , or can they do it themselves?
There is much written on the subject but not a lot (that I can
find) that would be understandable to the common aquarist like
me. Thanks again for your time and look forward to seeing you at
Reefland. Jim Bell >> Sorry for the late response... have
been on a liveaboard (in the Sudan no less) the last... Best way
is incidental... with live rock they're imbedded in... Bob
Fenner who sends you to Libby Hyman, Betty and Robert Barnes,
Olga Hartman... and the years I spent looking at , IDing
polychaetes!
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2 questions Hello Bob, Its
been awhile since I have contacted you, hope all is well. My first
question has to do with spaghetti worms,,,,,what can you tell me
about them or where can I find some good links? I have ran a search
on your page , but not found anything . I am thinking of
introducing some into my reef ......The second question is do air
bubbles cause some sort of eye disorder on marine fish? I thought
at one time I read on your Q&A that a bubble wand in a tank was
bad for this reason , but again , cant find it .Thanks for your
time and effort. Jim Bell >> Hey there. Spaghetti Worms?
I'd start the long read on polychaete annelids period... This
will be a very useful exercise, trust me. And yes, they're
worthwhile. Maybe you can pen an article for the hobby press on
what they are, they're use... And very fine bubbles in
aquariums (much smaller than a millimeter in diameter) are not
welcome... evidence of uptake, embolism (Emphysematosis is one
fancy name for the condition), exophthalmia (bilateral
"pop-eye")... you understand... but most all
"mechanical aerators" made for aquarium use are safe...
it's the odd mix of air and volute blending gas and water
together under pressure that cause problems. Bob Fenner
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Bristle Worms Hello Bob, I need a little
help ridding my tank of bristle worms. I want to use a fish to
get rid of them. Can you give me a couple of fish that would eat
them and not my other crustaceans. Preferably a wrasse that would
be reef safe. Also I have some cotton looking stuff (like Q-tips)
growing in my tank. Can you tell me what this is and how I can
get rid of it. Thanks for all the help you have given my and
other reef keepers. Adam >> Look into one of the more
peaceful "Lined Wrasses" (genus Pseudocheilinus, like
P. tetrataenia) or a "Flasher" of the genus
Cirrhilabrus. The cotton looking stuff may be an algae, or some
sort of decomposition/fungal product... I would just try to
siphon it away with a narrow gauge piece of rigid tubing attached
to a flexible hose. Otherwise, these areas will pass, be
supplanted by other life forms in time. Bob Fenner
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Unknown organisms Bob: I
was wondering if you could identify a very small thin worm that I
saw crawling around my live rock. It is a brown color, and
has white rings around it too. It moves quickly and then is
gone. It was less than an inch long, and maybe a 1/16th of an
inch in width. This morning I also saw a couple of very small
bristle worms they were red with white bristles. Do you know
of a fish or other organism that will help me get rid of
these little creatures? I had heard that I Six-line wrasse will eat
them...is this true? Thanks for your repeated help with my tank
Bob. Sincerely, Matthew S. >> The "lined wrasses"
of the genus Pseudocheilinus are very useful for eating many
species of small polychaete/bristle worms... And most species of
these worms are of no consequence... there are several thousand
different species... can't identify these from descriptions.
Bob Fenner
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Identification problem
Yesterday morning shortly after feeding I noticed these long skinny
"things" in the water. One was probably 3 inches and the
other about 5. I though they were fish yuck. However, they seemed
to be moving independently like ribbons. When the end of one hit
the rock it disintegrated into a whitish film. I got the net and
fished the remaining out. Within seconds, it started to dissolve
into this milky substance and to my horror, there were these dark
little worms inside it!! Could they be some sort of intestinal
worms that were passed? None of the fish exhibit unusual behavior
and are eating heartily. The other problem is that I don't know
what fish it came from. Are they harmful? The small worms inside
are a dark color with bodies that appear to have horizontal lines
on them (almost segmented like). I've posted this on many
of the discussion boards and haven't been successful with any
ID yet. Any ideas? Thanks for the assistance. Erica >> Does
sound like some sort of epitoke (Errantiate polychaete worm)
reproduction event.... and in an aquarium! Bizarre. Well, these are
probably not going to be harmful per se to your livestock or
system... but definitely caught your and my attention! Bob Fenner
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Strange worms?? I have a 65 gallon reef
tank. Lately I have noticed some worm like creatures in my
LR. They look like some sort of tube worm. They are enclosed in
a tube-like structure, all that is visible is two
"feelers" like that of a snail. They emit a sort
of cob-web like stringy material from them. What are these
things, are they bad and should I try to remove them? Please
advise Thanks, Sue >> Very likely not bad... related to
bristle worms, but sedentary in existence (i.e., not crawling
about)... some types called "Spaghetti Worms" for their
tentacular white stringy feeding apparatus... I'd ignore, but
enjoy them. Bob Fenner
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Bristle Worms I apologize
if this is a question which can be found in the Archives but my
only access is at work and I can't spend the time to read all
of them. I've been very successful with Salt Water Aquariums
for over 12 years now. Last week, for the first time, I added
some Fiji Live Rock to a newly acclimated tank. My only concern
is Bristle Worms. I have gotten them in other tanks before from
live plants and they managed to kill everything in time. Are
Bristle Worm an issue of concern for live rock users? If so, what
can be done to avoid a potential problem in the future. Being
that my tank is so new I like to hopefully kill them off before
they do become an issue. Thank You Very Much for any Advice. Lu
Ann Lubrano >> This is a "tough one"... Yes,
bringing in deleterious species, including several types of
bristle worms IS a concern with live rock (along with other types
of hard-substrate based material as you know)... and there are no
"sure fire" methods of guaranteeing totally "worm
free" live rock... My friend Walt Smith in Fiji, does about
the best job by thoroughly hand cleaning and hose-blasting all
new rock with seawater and then misting it for days ahead of
shipping (you ought to see the mass of mainly worms that
accumulates under this rock!)... Some folks seek to
"starve" the worms by using long "curing"
times... I don't think this really works... you'd have to
leave the rock on its own for years... Some people hint at using
anti worm compounds... sort of like for domestic pets... Others
use high Kalkwasser, low specific gravity... and more novel
approaches... We use "big ole mean fishes" like
triggers and then different sorts of wrasses (Pseudocheilinus),
and Centropyge angels in with our ongoing live rock filter/coral
culture units... with our eyes always open for the odd worm...
Bob Fenner
How do I get rid of bristle
worms in a 55 gallon reef aquarium full of live rock and
corals without harming the rock/coral? does anything eat these
worms? >> A few types of animals will take on a few types
of bristle worms (there are MANY species, of incredible
diversity...). Need to know what other sorts of organisms you
have... in order to suggest what you might try... that
wouldn't likely be eaten... as well. I would start with a
couple of Peppermint Shrimp if they will go with your other
livestock... and maybe a Paracheilinus, or Pseudocheilinus wrasse
species... Bob Fenner
Unknown Worms I have
recently seen on outbreak of worms in my 25 gal. mini reef tank.
These worms are small and tend to burrow in the crushed coral.
They are orange (or reddish color) with long numerous tentacles
which they appear to use for grabbing or feeding. They are only
about an inch long or so but there numbers have seem to grow very
rapidly. Is there an easy way to eradicate them. They don't
seem to bother any of the corals or fish in the tank. But since
there numbers have grown I know see them on my live rock. Now I
consider them a nuisance and would like to get ride of them. I
hope you can identify them with the information I given you.
Please Help. >> These are very likely some sort of
polychaete, which hobbyist literature tends to lump together as
bristle worms. Luckily you don't mention any getting
big/bigger, there are some real monsters in the group. Many
fishes will eat these smaller varieties, but I would need to know
what you already have to make sure I'm not suggesting an
inappropriate choice. What fishes, motile invertebrates do you
keep currently? And, what sorts of livestock would you like to
have/intend to add? There are a few worm eating Butterflyfishes
to utilize, but all get too big for your twenty five... you could
get some hermit crabs, but these might prove as big a nuisance in
the long haul... or you could just "wait out" this worm
invasion and see if they do no harm as their numbers naturally
drop (they will) Bob Fenner
Unknown Worms > I have
recently seen on outbreak of worms in my 25 gal. mini reef tank.
> These worms are small and tend to burrow in the crushed
coral. They are > orange (or reddish color) with long numerous
tentacles which they appear > to use for grabbing or feeding.
They are only about an inch long or so > but there numbers
have seem to grow very rapidly. Is there an easy way > to
eradicate them. They don't seem to bother any of the corals
or fish > in the tank. But since there numbers have grown I
know see them on my > live rock. Now I consider them a
nuisance and would like to get ride of > them. I hope you can
identify them with the information I given you. > Please Help.
> > These are very likely some sort of polychaete, which
hobbyist literature > tends to lump together as bristle worms.
Luckily you don't mention any > getting big/bigger, there
are some real monsters in the group. Many fishes > will eat
these smaller varieties, but I would need to know what you
already > have to make sure I'm not suggesting an
inappropriate choice. What fishes, > motile invertebrates do
you keep currently? And, what sorts of livestock > would you
like to have/intend to add? There are a few worm eating >
Butterflyfishes to utilize, but all get too big for your twenty
five... you > could get some hermit crabs, but these might
prove as big a nuisance in the > long haul... or you could
just "wait out" this worm invasion and see if they >
do no harm as their numbers naturally drop (they will) Bob Fenner
The unknown worms don't get any bigger than an inch, and I
haven't seen any of the fish I eat these weird looking worms.
I currently have a large maroon clown with a bubble tip anemone,
two gobies I caught at a reef nearby, two crabs, and about 10
hermit crabs from the same reef. I would like to add a flame
angel and a couple of Banggai cardinals. I would also like to add
mushrooms to the tank to complete it. >> I'd go ahead
with that plan. The one inch or less worms should be no problem
and likely you will end up with one fat and happy Flame Angel
(Centropyge loricula) Bob Fenner
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Bristle Worms Good
Evening, HELP. really...I have a huge, that I have seen
bristle worm...how do I get him out? I am desperate...this thing
seems to be at least 5 inches long and I have tired to catch him
with tweezers... Thank You, Laura >> There's no
need to fear, Anti-Worm is HERE! Actually, the "bigger they
are..." the easier to remove. Try this, tonight when you
turn off the lights, place a discrete (large, compact) bit of
meaty food (like a big part of a cocktail shrimp) in the corner
that is most open and closest to your worm... and keep a sharp
eye out... it should be out to feed shortly and you can remove it
with a net. Good fishing! Bob Fenner
Spider-Web, errr, worm I
have what looks like a spider web growing on my live Fiji rock. I
tried to vacuum it off when I did a water change, but with no
success. Is it ok or harmful >> Probably just the feeding
end of some species of non-motile (Sedentariate) segmented worm
(polychaete)... same phylum as the bristle worms of so many
species, but not harmful at all. Enjoy it! As it lays out those
"tentacles" and swipes them back over its
"mouth" to feed. Bob Fenner
Bristleworm population control
by predation I have had a Macrodactyla doreensis (long
tentacle anemone) for about three months. He dwells in my 125
which contains about 200 lbs of rock. I am afraid I can find no
effective control for the hungry fireworm population, who emerge
at night and chew on the anemone's foot. Now he has developed
a puffy spot and it looks to be Vibrio as shown in the Reef
Aquarium Volume 2 page 363. I removed him to a hospital tank with
a small skimmer on it. I will try the recommended treatment but
think recovery will need divine intervention. My question is what
nocturnal animals control these beasts on the reef. My Assasi
trigger thinks they are tasty, but he goes to bed when the lights
go down. My clowns and anemone crab are homeless. Is there no
hope for fireworm control? Sadly yours, Kathy Benson
>> Yikes... it's outright war! If it were me, I'd
stock a pair of Pseudocheilinus octotaenia, or P. evanidus
(don't worry about them fighting, or color variants... These
should be fast, large and smart enough to stay shy of the
trigger, but will put a dent and a half in your worm population.
Don't overfeed them with "other" foods.
Alternatively and additionally, I'd try trapping the larger
ones in a commercial or home made device. Bob Fenner
Bristleworm population control by predation Hey Bob, I
love your column and I have a question for you. Which is the best
fish to combat those orange head worms?. I have a 40gl. reef with
shrimps, a yellow Tang, one Clarkii with a host anemone, and one
yellow tail Damsel. Please tell me about those worms, there are
getting always around my clams. Thanks!. >> I like it too!
The best fish to eat many types of these pesky polychaete
(bristle) worms? Kind of depends on what else you have in your
tank livestock wise (so the intended eater doesn't munch on
them) and what types of worms (size-wise mainly). Many crabs will
eat these worms (and other things), as will triggers and some
angels. A few wrasses will scarf them up (the genera
Pseudocheilinus and Paracheilinus for the small worms, some
Coris, Halichoeres for larger ones)... for you, I'd look into
some smaller species of hermit crabs and hope or buy/make a trap
to set at night, remove in the bottom. Your tanks a bit small for
a larger worm eater. I have been asking around a bit and am
looking for a way to eliminate or control the numbers of worms in
my substrate. I have heard people say, that dotty backs and arrow
crabs work, I have heard others say that emerald crabs would get
rid of them, I have had one retailer tell me to get rid of all my
rock and substrate and come buy more from him!!! the jerk... What
do you recommend? >> All these critters should help. I
wouldn't get rid of your rock or substrate, but would
consider giving the heave ho to that dealer. Bob Fenner
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Question: I am fairly new at this salt water
side of the hobby. I am wondering how much of a problem
bristleworms are. I noticed one or two in the live rock I
purchased nearly a year ago, and have been noticing more and more
ever since. I purchased one of those cheap plastic trap gizmos
and have yet to trap a worm. I seem to have better luck with
tweezers or scissors. The last one I saw was too large to fit
even the trap. I have a large carpet anemone which doesn't
seem bothered by them, but everything I hear about them says they
feed on invertebrates. I want to start adding corals, but not if
these worms are just going to consume them. Do I really need to
be concerned? Is there anything that feeds on bristleworms? Am I
doing something wrong that is helping them proliferate? Thanks
for any help.
Bob's Answer: All good questions and
concerns: For one, there are many polychaetes called
bristleworms. Two, most are innocuous, a few desirable... as
food, sifters and movers of material... Three, most will not, do
not harm corals or other desirable livestock. Four, yes there are
many animals that eat these ubiquitous marine worms. Some of the
Butterflyfishes, gobies, triggers, wrasses, some shrimp and tangs
notably... of course they must fit in with your other
livestock... Fifthly, you are probably doing little to cause, but
a great deal to allow them to proliferate. Lack of predators and
competitors in a necessarily unnatural setting (small marine
volume of macrobiotic life), feeding (perhaps excessively... but
hard to manipulate...), but very often, worm and other
invertebrate pop. growth problems just work themselves out over
time. I wouldn't go overt in efforts to eliminate all of
these critters unless they become an obvious problem. Then I
would go the bio- predatory route.
Question: I am fairly new at this salt water
side of the hobby. I am wondering how much of a problem
bristleworms are. I noticed one or two in the live rock I
purchased nearly a year ago, and have been noticing more and more
ever since. I purchased one of those cheap plastic trap gizmos
and have yet to trap a worm. I seem to have better luck with
tweezers or scissors. The last one I saw was too large to fit
even the trap. I have a large carpet anemone which doesn't
seem bothered by them, but everything I hear about them says they
feed on invertebrates. I want to start adding corals, but not if
these worms are just going to consume them. Do I really need to
be concerned? Is there anything that feeds on bristleworms? Am I
doing something wrong that is helping them proliferate? Thanks
for any help.
Bob's Answer: All good questions and
concerns: For one, there are many polychaetes called
bristleworms. Two, most are innocuous, a few desirable... as
food, sifters and movers of material... Three, most will not, do
not harm corals or other desirable livestock. Four, yes there are
many animals that eat these ubiquitous marine worms. Some of the
Butterflyfishes, gobies, triggers, wrasses, some shrimp and tangs
notably... of course they must fit in with your other
livestock... Fifthly, you are probably doing little to cause, but
a great deal to allow them to proliferate. Lack of predators and
competitors in a necessarily unnatural setting (small marine
volume of macrobiotic life), feeding (perhaps excessively... but
hard to manipulate...), but very often, worm and other
invertebrate pop. growth problems just work themselves out over
time. I wouldn't go overt in efforts to eliminate all of
these critters unless they become an obvious problem. Then I
would go the bio- predatory route.
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Question: If you don't have many corals
are bristle worms still a danger? What damage do they really do,
and how do you get rid of them? Traps don't seem to work very
well.
Bob's Answer: Tracy, I'll admit to
you that I spent a few years "sorting and identifying
benthic marine invertebrates" as a cheap labor grad. student
- mainly Errantiate polychaete worms. There are MANY species of
so-called bristleworms. If you want to lose some sleep, take a
look at Roger Steene's latest underwater picture book. A few
pix of a three meter (not a typo, yes ten foot) "bristle
worm" that comes straight out of the substrate to grab
hapless fishes is pictured! Bristle worms as a group are not
unlike the more familiar Decapod crabs....opportunistic
omnivores. Even if you don't have corals, they'll gladly
eat everything else you have over time. Either selective physical
removal, nuking of gravel, rock and substrate or biological
warfare (e.g. the hungriest triggerfish on the planet) are called
for.
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