GREAT, got some of these idiots

**cocoa_pleco** · 06-04-2007, 02:53 AM

I was looking at my LR, and of course i see something new, 4 stupid bristle worms. Immediately, i went and talked to someone about them. They said that bristle worms are a good indicator of water quality, and they eat scraps. You have to either buy a wrasse or move them yourself too. He also said that small theyre no threat, but large they are to corals. He also said that i should wait until they get big (theyre only 1.5" now) to remove them, as for the most part theyre good for the tank small. true? I tried Pwning some myself but theyre fast, and of COURSE theyre on the base of my LR, not the top piece

**Drumachine09** · 06-04-2007, 02:55 AM

The peice of LR that my first coral came on was half the size of a golf ball. I had not one....not two.... not even three bristle worms on it. I had 12, countem 12 bristle worms, on that small peice.

**cocoa_pleco** · 06-04-2007, 03:05 AM

12? wow, thats alot. you have good water quality if theyre still alive then.

i just noticed mine 10 minutes ago. Im sitting at the tank with a plastic stick poking them and stabbing them. Theyre REALLY pi$$ing me off.

did you get rid of yours at all?

**Drumachine09** · 06-04-2007, 03:07 AM

Nope. They clean up alot of detritus.

**jttt3** · 06-04-2007, 04:11 PM

lol so you can, in theory, get rid of them by decreasing your water quality?

I'm going to go the live rock route with a SW setup in the next couple of months, I'm sure I will have to deal with the buggers. If you find a really ingenius way to trap them please do share. =)

**2manyfish** · 06-04-2007, 06:54 PM

First that's a big fallacy. Bristleworms do not change their habits when they grow. Once a scavenger always a scavenger. It's the related worms (fireworm, euchnid (sp?)) that have the unfortunate habit of chowing down on corals. And they will do so whether they are large or small.
Bristleworms are good for your tank. They are also an indicator if your tank is being overfed or not. If you see tons of bristleworms in your tank it means you are overfeeding. Cut back on the amount fed and the bristleworm population will die back too. When they spawn, their eggs will become free food for your corals and small fish....

If you still feel you must remove them there is an easy way to do so. Simply take a nylon stocking, cut the foot off and wash this in plain water to remove any soap residue. Put a piece of shrimp or clam inside the nylon and tie it off. Place this in the tank after lights out. You may need to weigh this down with a small rock or something. The bristleworms will come out to feed and they will force their heads through the nylon but will become caught in there and in the morning you simply remove the nylon and toss. Or you can send them to me!!!

**cocoa_pleco** · 06-04-2007, 08:30 PM

i definitely dont overfeed. I give the condy his food, and right after i take the shell he spits out. I also feed the damsel special fancy saltwater pellets, and hes a pig and he never misses any.

I think for now i'll leave them. I i start seeing more than 4 or 5 bristle worms, i'll take action.