Bristle worm eaters

[Ryan2428]

So let's here it looking for some options I have done a lot of research on it last couple days want to hear r2r members suggestions so fire away

 

[Tahoe61]

Arrow Crabs, very proficient at eating bristleworms even a very large worm. I have always had to return my Arrow Crabs when they got too large and obnoxious.
Dottybacks, will also eat them but can be extremely aggressive and much harder to remove.

Knee high panty hose with raw fish, hose tied at the end, placed in tank at night. The worms come to eat and get tangled the fabric, simply remove in am.

 

[TJ's Reef]

I've had great luck with Yellow Coris, Radiant, Melanurus, Leopards and even Six Line in hunting/eating the smaller ones then only need to manually remove the larger ones when I come across them. I leave therm in my sump unless really large.

Cheers, Todd

 

[jgraz]

Problem with fish eating then or at least putting a dent in the population is that the fish are inactive when the worms are out.

 

[Ryan2428]

Agree on fish not eating at night and I'm just looking for them to catch the ones that come out during the day as for the arrow crab he is a good canadiate except he also eats snails which I can't have I have a few turbos and 2 fighting conch so hesitant there as well the nylon sock does work got a 5 incher with it last night

 

[Tahoe61]

For what it's worth I never had issues with Arrow Crabs eating snails. The crab did however steal food from my LPS. I have had several Arrows over the years, they just always got so big eventually.

Large bristleworms have never been a problem for me either. Live and let live if it does not eat my corals is my motto.

 

[b_rad_G]

I've never had a problem with bristle worms either. I don't have any now but I don't feel they cause a problem. Look at em as the ultimate detritus cleaners!

 

[Ryan2428]

Oh I don't mind a few but they bred like rabbits if not in check is all

 

[Tahoe61]

Their population is dependent on a available food source. Newer tanks tend to have larger populations. If you have fish like Anthias that require multiple feedings a day then yes you may see more. Typically the population declines as a tank ages.

 

[Ryan2428]

It is a newer tank and the rock in this one came from a 15 year old reef tank I have lots of hitchhikers some good some not so much but knew going into it that it would be this way . Didn't want the rock to be tossed out which was what they were going to do with it . Since no one in his family wanted to deal with the tank after he passed