Are Bristleworms helpful or harmful

Jeanet Lopez · Jan 10, 2019

Hello, I'm curious to know what the thought is on bristle worms in the aquarium. I have several and I'm just wondering if I need to try to eradicate them or if they are actually scavengers and help keep the tank clean. I have not seen them bother anything actually except in my bigger tank I had a pair of clownfish lay eggs and the bristle worm came out of the Rock and ate the eggs when they were about to hatch.

James M · Jan 10, 2019

Welcome to reef2reef !!!
They are good CUC but they are scavengers and will eat anything they can to survive

Saveafish · Jan 10, 2019

They can be good and bad. Great part of the clean up crew. Can over population and eat food out of your corals. They are opportunity eaters. Like hermit crabs.

Blackice615 · Jan 10, 2019

I heard of some hitchhikers stinging tank owners. What type of hitchhikers are harmful to us?

Hella_Reef · Jan 10, 2019

Take out the larger ones when you can, wrasses, arrowcrabs, and coral banded shrimp will help keep ur population in check.

Just know that they will also go after smaller snails and hermit crabs you dont want eaten.

But as stated above me, bristleworns are good and bad. kind of like R Kelly, he is a good singer, but a very bad man when the lights are out lol. [emoji6]

Hella_Reef · Jan 10, 2019

Blackice615 said:
I heard of some hitchhikers stinging tank owners. What type of hitchhikers are harmful to us?

Off the top of my head, aptasia can irritate ur skin a little, bristleworms turn into a cactus basically when touched. Also sea urchins can get ya pretty good too.

Blackice615 · Jan 10, 2019

Thank you, I believe it was bristleworms that I got the impression of.

Jeanet Lopez · Jan 10, 2019

James M said:
Welcome to reef2reef !!!
They are good CUC but they are scavengers and will eat anything they can to survive

Thank you! I've been reading posts for awhile. I find the Bristleworms fascinating to watch personally, but I've read so much about how bad they are. Also, not sure what CUC means?

Hemmdog · Jan 10, 2019

Jeanet Lopez said:
Thank you! I've been reading posts for awhile. I find the Bristleworms fascinating to watch personally, but I've read so much about how bad they are. Also, not sure what CUC means?

Clean up crew

Jeanet Lopez · Jan 10, 2019

Hella_Reef said:
Take out the larger ones when you can, wrasses, arrowcrabs, and coral banded shrimp will help keep ur population in check.

Just know that they will also go after smaller snails and hermit crabs you dont want eaten.

But as stated above me, bristleworns are good and bad. kind of like R Kelly, he is a good singer, but a very bad man when the lights are out lol. [emoji6]

Ha so right you are! The picture I posted is why I wrote. He's giant! Unfortunately I don't think I can have a coral banded shrimp, I just got the cleaner shrimp and it is a 9 gallon. Prob not enough space for them both.

Jeanet Lopez · Jan 10, 2019

Hemmdog said:
Clean up crew

Oh. Thank you!

smiley28 · Jan 10, 2019

Bristle worms can be very efficient at scavenging.

AndrewB · Jan 10, 2019

They're welcome in my aquarium. I like a diverse CUC and with my large brittle star gone I welcome their abilities.

Stanzo13 · Jan 10, 2019

I had a scooter blenny eat a pretty large wild worm in my tank once, not gonna lie it was awesome. And the blenny was fine. Bristle worms can stab you if you try to grab them. I used to hunt with tweezers, it took a lot of patience and just at the best moment as fast as I could I'd grab em. I no longer have bristle worms

Scotty Buttons · Jan 11, 2019

I don't believe they will go after any live animal including snails or hermits. They will scavenge anything dead and will eat eggs if they find them. They are excellent scavengers and able to get into all the crevices of the live rock that most other CUC can't reach. I have never removed them from my tanks because of how beneficial they are and I think there cool. On the other hand do research fireworms. Which look somewhat similar, you don't ever want to touch them they pack a potent sting . Good luck and happy reefing

BestMomEver · Jan 11, 2019

I would remove them just because I think they’re nasty!

Get a six line Wrasse!

Captain Quint · Jan 11, 2019

BestMomEver said:
I would remove them just because I think they’re nasty! Get a six line Wrasse!

+1 I know the benefits of having them. I also know that I've pulled I plenty of the bristles from my hands.

Personally, I do not care for them.

Ocean Lotion · Jan 11, 2019

The advantage to having them is that when a snail dies they immediately eat it so it does not polite your tank.

Jeanet Lopez · Jan 11, 2019

Scott Jeffries said:
I don't believe they will go after any live animal including snails or hermits. They will scavenge anything dead and will eat eggs if they find them. They are excellent scavengers and able to get into all the crevices of the live rock that most other CUC can't reach. I have never removed them from my tanks because of how beneficial they are and I think there cool. On the other hand do research fireworms. Which look somewhat similar, you don't ever want to touch them they pack a potent sting . Good luck and happy reefing

I think they are very cool myself. In fact I can't wait to turn off the lights at night to see what pops out of the Rock next! Thanks!

Jeanet Lopez · Jan 11, 2019

Captain Quint said:
+1 I know the benefits of having them. I also know that I've pulled I plenty of the bristles from my hands.

Personally, I do not care for them.

Ouch! I've heard their little bristles pack a punch