Bristle worm question

[DrunkenViking]

Ok I know that bristle worms are a normal part of a clean up crew . But for how new our tank is and how big these guys are should I try to do something?
Do reef roids make these guys grow that freaking fast?

 

[DrunkenViking]

Have two about 4-5 inches long

 

[Gtinnel]

Thats longer than most of the ones I normally see in my tank. I googled it and apparently they can grow to around a foot long but are typically seen in the 4 inch range.
I also never see mine during the day, but I suspect the melanurus wrasse has something to do with that.

 

[DrunkenViking]

Thats longer than most of the ones I normally see in my tank. I googled it and apparently they can grow to around a foot long but are typically seen in the 4 inch range.
I also never see mine during the day, but I suspect the melanurus wrasse has something to do with that.

Same I have never really seen them this big and out in the light. The 2 times I have fed reef roids they have came out like this

 

[Gtinnel]

Same I have never really seen them this big and out in the light. The 2 times I have fed reef roids they have came out like this

Before getting my wrasse they would come out when I fed reef roids.

 

[DrunkenViking]

Just think my tank is way to small for a wrasse that would be big enough to eat these guys

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Coral banded scrymps hunt them at night. In fact I've seen mine walking around with a few in his claws at lights on.

 

[Zer0]

Have they caused any issues that warrant removing them, or do you just not like them? They are excellent detritivores and scavengers, some of the best I’ve ever seen.

 

[vetteguy53081]

They scavenge. As long as there is a food source, there will be growth. Arrow crabs do eat them if they become populated

 

[DrunkenViking]

Have they caused any issues that warrant removing them, or do you just not like them? They are excellent detritivores and scavengers, some of the best I’ve ever seen.

So far no issues but it’s a 13 gallon tank and don’t want them getting to big. They definitely are just creepy looking little turds

 

[Zer0]

I have a 10G cube and I have like 6-7 that I could count, with 2 or 3 of them being easily over 3” long. They are disgusting critters, no question there, but I see them drag away big pieces of food so I tolerate them lol.

 

[DrunkenViking]

I have a 10G cube and I have like 6-7 that I could count, with 2 or 3 of them being easily over 3” long. They are disgusting critters, no question there, but I see them drag away big pieces of food so I tolerate them lol.

Yeah I guess I’ll just let them do what they do. I know they are good for cleaning up just hate what the look like lol

 

[Gtinnel]

Yeah I guess I’ll just let them do what they do. I know they are good for cleaning up just hate what the look like lol

I've never had an issue with having them in my tank, and I have lots of them. I swear when the lights go out the crawl out of every tiny hole in every rock.

 

[Oldreefer44]

I had 2 that were about a centimeter thick and a foot long with no adverse effects that I was ever aware of.

 

[DrunkenViking]

I've never had an issue with having them in my tank, and I have lots of them. I swear when the lights go out the crawl out of every tiny hole in every rock.

It’s probably because this tank is so small I will always see them now lol

 

[DrunkenViking]

I had 2 that were about a centimeter thick and a foot long with no adverse effects that I was ever aware of.

Nope that’s way to big lol

 

[Zer0]

It’s probably because this tank is so small I will always see them now lol

It’s funny you mention this, but basically yes, it’s impossible for me to NOT see them lol. When I feed the tank they come slithering out from pretty much everywhere. The first couple days I was not super happy with the creepy worms haha, but after seeing them do such a great job of cleaning up food scraps in such a short amount of time, well, they earned their place. They can also get in to just about any nook and cranny to clean up, which is something hermit crabs just can’t do.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Yeah I guess I’ll just let them do what they do. I know they are good for cleaning up just hate what the look like lol

Fully agreed. They give me the UGGs.

On the other hand they are great scavengers.

 

[DrunkenViking]

It’s funny you mention this, but basically yes, it’s impossible for me to NOT see them lol. When I feed the tank they come slithering out from pretty much everywhere. The first couple days I was not super happy with the creepy worms haha, but after seeing them do such a great job of cleaning up food scraps in such a short amount of time, well, they earned their place. They can also get in to just about any nook and cranny to clean up, which is something hermit crabs just can’t do.

That makes a lot of sense

 

[Tired]

Reef Roids are really smelly food that will attract detritivores. As long as you're making sure to target-feed your corals and fish, rather than just letting food blow around the tank until scavengers find it, you shouldn't have much of a problem with it feeding the worms.

Bristleworms are good detritivores, that will grow as much as the food in the tank will let them grow. If you don't have much food loose in the tank, you won't have huge bristleworms.

Big ones don't do anything but creep people out more and eat more detritus. They don't pupate into a bobbit worm or something once they get big, they're just big.