Bristle worm wanted a snack

PhilMStudy · Mar 26, 2022

I’ve noticed I have at least two 12” (or more

) bristle worms in my tank and they’re starting to not worry at all about going out into the open…

my guy just stole ulva from my rabbit and cb lol

PhilMStudy · Mar 26, 2022

Glass is messy per usual, I don’t clean it that often, it’s the only reliable place I can keep algae growing for the CUC and others lol

Nemo&Friends · Mar 26, 2022

yes they love macro. These worms ate most of the macro I am trying to grow. I kill the one I see in that tank, but I think they multiply faster than I can keep up with.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 26, 2022

Reason why theyre not welcomed in my tanks

Sink_or_Swim · May 23, 2022

I. Hate. Bristleworms. They are the main reason I did not want to start my tank with live rock. Then, I stupidly purchased a mushroom covered rock from a local reefer's established tank. Said rock apparently included a baby bristleworm that has now grown into a big, creepy bristleworm. I don't put my hands near that rock for any reason without gloves, lol. He's brave - as soon as food hits the water, he comes halfway out of his hidey hole. Since I have only seen the one so far, I let him stay.

PhilMStudy · May 23, 2022

I don’t mind them so much but they have a lot of room to operate and only come out about once a month right now…

the other fish make a run at the smaller ones, they leave the bigger one(a) alone but once I get a couple of wrasse and they get full size we’ll see lol

Alexraptor · May 23, 2022

Personally I love them, I view them as essential detritivores and scavengers. And they've done a great service in taking care of dead animals in the tank before they begin to decompose.

Feet Pixel · May 23, 2022

I am terrified of bristleworms. Absolutely terrified. Almost had to call an ex to put my rock into my tank after i saw one. Crises averted with big rubber gloves

jmatt · May 23, 2022

Read your post and thought of this video I saw some time back. Yikes.

REEFER-RICK · May 23, 2022

jmatt said:
Read your post and thought of this vedeo I saw some time back. Yikes.

Those are monsters in my tank they would be gone for sure

Cell · May 23, 2022

No water centipedes for me.

jmatt · May 23, 2022

REEFER-RICK said:
Those are monsters in my tank they would be gone for sure

Didja notice he says he knew he had one in the tank but hadn't seen it for 2 years? That's a big critter to hide for a few years.

Tired · May 23, 2022

Ha, look at the fella go! They're creepy, but they won't hurt anything, if you don't have any squishy macros. They just steal food.

...assuming that is actually just a standard bristleworm. Hard to see the color right in those photos, but something looks a little off.

I've thinned out bristleworms (via removal and humane euthanasia with clove oil) in the past, but only because I was trying to make it easier for the micro brittle stars to multiply, and because they were eating my macros. They're neat, and good for eating any excess food.

You shouldn't put your hands on your rock without gloves, in any case. There can be some really nasty bacteria on the rock, and if you cut yourself on a sharp bit you didn't notice, all that bacteria goes right into your bloodstream.