Bristle worms?

reefluvrr · Dec 20, 2019

For about a few months, I saw no signs of bristle worms in my main display. I thought cool, one less nuisance critter to have to worry about when I dig through the sand bed.

This evening, I started to clean my sump when I spotted something reddish-orange.

Whelp, I took my twizzlers and removed them.

No idea they could get this huge......

Can bristle worms get this big or are they something else formed from my toxic sludge sump?

Thanks

flyline · Dec 20, 2019

Well it’s twofold I’ve read they are a good part of a clean up crew but if you do see a lot of them you have a nutrient problem

vetteguy53081 · Dec 20, 2019

Yes no doubt. Although harmless, a good time to flush. Not welcomed in any of my tanks

flyline · Dec 20, 2019

And they can get that biglol

minus9 · Dec 21, 2019

Leave them in the sump, they're doing their job of picking up detritus. They're part of your export team of leftover food. Yes, they get bigger, much bigger.

flyline · Dec 21, 2019

Mmmmmm sushi

Scribz718 · Dec 21, 2019

I breed bristleworms in my sump. Live and let live policy. Dead fish? What dead fish? Worms took care of it before I even knew it was missing.

Hemmdog · Dec 21, 2019

Those are fireworms.

bristleworms have a browner hue to them.

reefluvrr · Dec 21, 2019

Hemmdog said:
Those are fireworms.

bristleworms have a browner hue to them.

Okay, if mine were fire worms...glad I flushed them....

reefluvrr · Dec 21, 2019

minus9 said:
Leave them in the sump, they're doing their job of picking up detritus. They're part of your export team of leftover food. Yes, they get bigger, much bigger.

I may have to put a biohazard warning sticker in my sump if they can get much much bigger....

html · Dec 21, 2019

Are they bad for your aquarium? I have them a lot and did not see anything bad from them

flsalty · Dec 21, 2019

html said:
Are they bad for your aquarium? I have them a lot and did not see anything bad from them

No, and quite frankly I have no idea why people freak out about them.

Mical · Dec 21, 2019

Bristleworms are good as long as there aren't too many. I ordered some live rock online and it had thousands! The sand at night looked like it was moving and they irritated my corals. I caught hundreds in traps but there was still thousands. Heck if you cut one in half they keep moving and grow into two. Finally got a six line wrasse - problem solved. He eliminated "MOST" of them but not all and I can live with the few I have as they scavenge left over food and waste.

KJ · Dec 21, 2019

reefluvrr said:
For about a few months, I saw no signs of bristle worms in my main display. I thought cool, one less nuisance critter to have to worry about when I dig through the sand bed.

This evening, I started to clean my sump when I spotted something reddish-orange.

Whelp, I took my twizzlers and removed them.

No idea they could get this huge......

Can bristle worms get this big or are they something else formed from my toxic sludge sump?

Thanks

Yes Bristleworms get this big.

Hemmdog · Dec 21, 2019

Bristleworms are fine, fireworms are not fine, they eat/irritate coral to death, they can clog plumbing.
I wouldn’t be all lassez faire about them, these aren’t bristleworms.
Don’t touch them with your bare hands obviously.

Mical · Dec 21, 2019

THIS is a bristleworm problem -

Bryce M. · Dec 21, 2019

Mical said:
THIS is a bristleworm problem -

.....
huh

KJ · Dec 21, 2019

[/QUOTE]

minus9 said:
Leave them in the sump, they're doing their job of picking up detritus. They're part of your export team of leftover food. Yes, they get bigger, much bigger.

Agree.